Report: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal (inc. goals)

Arsenal made it two wins from two in the Premier League as Leandro Trossard came off the bench to inspire a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa. The Belgian broke the deadlock with his first touch and was heavily involved in the build-up to the second as Thomas Partey converted from the edge of the box. 

The outcome might have been very different had David Raya not produced a stunning reaction save to keep out a header by Ollie Watkins who’d already missed a sitter in the first half. 

If the pundits were hoping for a barnstorming end-to-end first half, it was anything but. In the opening stages, Arsenal did everything to take the pace out of the game, perhaps with one eye on dampening the spirits of a raucous home crowd. Gabriel and Saliba exchanged pass after pass, sometimes even putting their foot on the ball while waiting for Villa pressure that didn’t come. 

The tempo was further affected by three stoppages in the opening 25 minutes. Amadou Onana went down early after a collision with Timber, Matty Cash was substituted with a hamstring injury and Leon Bailey seemed to tweak his knee and received treatment before continuing. 

In between, Arsenal patiently probed. The first chance for either side came on seven minutes when Martinelli, with space to run into, burst towards the edge of the box before failing to pick out Odegaard. The ball was recovered by Saka who swung in a cross that Martinez parried to the edge of the box. Rice reacted with a quick-fire shot that the Argentine claimed. 

Martinez was called into action again eight minutes later, this time making a brilliant fingertip stop to deny Saka who’d worked his way onto his favoured left foot before curling a low effort that was destined for the bottom corner. It was a fine stop by the ex-Gunner who fooled referee Michael Oliver into awarding a free-kick when he theatrically tumbled over from the resulting corner. 

Having been in total control, the Gunners very nearly gifted the home side the lead on 24 minutes. Gabriel was caught dawdling on the edge of the box by Bailey, Rogers played a first time pass to Watkins and the England international looked destined to score before he rolled his effort wide of Raya’s right post. It was a real let-off.  

As the half wore on, we regained control but struggled to pick up the tempo. Partey fired over from range, before Havertz failed to make the best of a couple of half chances. A cross to Saka was cut out and not long after he failed to redirect a Martinelli cross on target. 

Aside from things getting tetchy between John McGinn and William Saliba – the former kicking the ball at the latter not long after an initial coming together – not much happened. Raya claimed a low cross inside his six-yard box and a half-hearted effort by Bailey before six minutes of stoppage time played out at a snail’s pace. 

It was more of the same for the first nine minutes after the break until Raya was called into a spectacular save to deny Watkins. The Spaniard was on the floor behind his goalline after an initial deflected shot clipped the bar but he showed incredible athleticism to spring to his left as the England international headed at a near-open goal. 

The home crowd responded to the close-shave and Arsenal had to stand firm as the noise increased. Onana headed over from a corner, Rogers forced another after shrugging off Partey and Konsa came close to guiding a free-kick past Raya. At the other end, Martinez denied Saka after the winger exchanged passes with Odegaard. 

On 65 minutes both sides introduced players with fantastic records scoring off the bench. Jhonn Duran replaced Watkins while Trossard took over from Martinelli. It was the Belgian who made an instant impact converting a Saka cutback with his first touch as the ball rolled to him 12 yards out. It was a brilliantly composed finish under pressure which he celebrated with delicious arrogance, barely reacting as his teammates mobbed him. (GOAL 1-0)

Arsenal continued to control proceedings before extending the lead 10 minutes later. Again Trossard was at the centre of things, bursting behind the defence before firing a ball across goal that Saka collected at the back post. The winger held his nerve before feeding Partey who shot first time inside Martinez’s near post. The Argentine probably should have done better but nobody in black cared as the Ghanaian raced to the Arsenal fans. (GOAL 2-0)

Martin Odegaard really should have extended the advantage two minutes later but he blazed over following more terrific work by Trossard. He’s missed a few like that at Villa Park in the last few years. 

Arteta’s decision to send Calafiori on for his debut was the signal to shut up shop although that was easier said than done with Villa desperate to get back into things. 

Substitute Ramsey streaked away only to be denied by a combination of Saliba and Raya. They celebrated their defensive action like they’d scored to deflate a crowd who made for the exit in their droves. 

All in all, a cracking win against a side who caused a lot of pain last season.