Credit: Aston Villa
Dean Smith’s side were the better side throughout and thoroughly deserved the three points after Ollie Watkins’ early opener.
It was always going to be a tough and busy day for debutant Mat Ryan, but not many, including the Australian international himself, foresaw it’s immediacy.
After a mix-up between Cedric Soares and Gabriel Magalhaes, Bertrand Traore found Ollie Watkins, whose deflected effort was too well-placed for Ryan’s reach.
The Burkinabe winger was the main threat to Arsenal in the first half, targeting his dribbling at the struggling left-hand side of Arsenal’s defence, which they have failed to rectify in the absence of Kieran Tierney.
He had an opportunity himself, skipping past Gabriel to go one-on-one with Ryan. He attempted an audacious chip, but it was easily denied.
Arsenal came closest via Granit Xhaka, who’s curling free-kick was tipped over by Emi Martinez. They threatened minimally from open play.
The second half was far more evenly matched, with Ryan’s counterpart and former Arsenal man Martinez tested far more regularly.
Nicolas Pepe was instrumental in Arsenal’s revitalisation. The Ivorian was regularly causing problems for Matty Cash down the right hand-side. He would switch over and be equally as effective (but without the end product) in the second period.
It was he who forced Martinez into his most outstanding save, with a deflected effort from close range scissored away by his trailing leg.
Martin Ødegaard replaced Cedric with half an hour to play and brought a new creative element to a dorment Arsenal frontline.
The Norwegian is currently on loan from Spanish giants Real Madrid – but Los Blancos wouldn’t have been too impressed when he skied over a simple chance from ten yards out.
Despite faint Arsenal pressure, Villa would hold on for an important win in the European chase. The Villains rise to eighth, with Arteta’s men falling to tenth after a second consecutive defeat in the Midlands.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Barkley, Nakamba; Grealish, Traore, Watkins
Subs: Heaton, Luiz, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Engels, Sanson, Elmohamady, Davis, Ramsey
Arsenal: Ryan; Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Cedric; Partey, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe; Pepe, Lacazette, Saka
Subs: Runarsson, Ceballos, Ødegaard, Willian, Aubameyang, Chambers, Mari, Elneny, Martinelli
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