Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Aston Villa: 5 things we learned – The inspiring Matteo Guendouzi

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

Arsenal hosted Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon with the Premier League season rumbling on. Here are five things we learned from the 3-2 win.

You would be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were going to do it again. Just as their rivals were floundering around them and the top-four loomed, they would lay yet another egg at home. Aston Villa utterly dominated the Gunners in the first half. Ainsley Maitland-Niles was then sent off. Unai Emery’s side looked devoid of talent, attitude and application. And then, the second half. Matteo Guendouzi sensational, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring, Calum Chambers turning into Cafu. This was mental.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Conclusions in the Chaos

Here are five things we learned from Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: General view inside the stadium as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: General view inside the stadium as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

5. The top four is on

This was not a very good performance. Do not let the second-half comeback paper over the chasms of the first-half calamity. If Arsenal continue to play as they did before the break, they will not be anywhere near a top-four finish. And yet, a top-four finish is very much possible for this team.

Now, there are issues that must be solved if Arsenal are to genuinely compete for a top-four finish, especially defensively. But Unai Emery does seem to know how to win these wild matches that his team do not deserve, and that will serve them well throughout a long and arduous campaign.

More pertinently, however, the rest of the ‘big six’ are struggling greatly. Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs all lost this weekend. With this victory, the Gunners moved into the top four — it is very early to draw any genuine conclusions from the table at this point. They are already three points clear of United, Spurs and Chelsea, with all looking like they have serious issues. Arsenal are not fine. They have problems. But the top four is still well within reach.