Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal: 4 talking points from huge win

Arsenal bounced back from its defeat to Liverpool midweek with a dominant performance over a poor Aston Villa side. A first-half strike from Bukayo Saka was enough to give the Gunners a vital 1-0 win, and their fifth straight away victory.

Arsenal started brightly with both Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey having goal-bound efforts inside the opening 10 minutes.

The Gunners would get their noses in front just before the half-hour mark. After a dead ball situation, Saka drove at the Aston Villa box before laying it off for Cedric who clipped in an inviting ball. It bounced around the box before landing at the feet of Saka who lashed home his shot past Emi Martinez to give the visitors a worthy lead.

Thomas Partey was doing his thing in midfield while Saka was getting great joy down his flank, and the Gunners’ left-hand side of Kieran Tierney and Smith Rowe also saw plenty of joy as Villa were often pushed back deep into their half due to Arsenal’s quick and fluid movement.

Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa: 4 talking points from huge Premier League win as Arteta’s side take another step towards the top four

Overall, it was a superb first half for the visitors as Aston Villa barely had a sniff. Arsenal had more possession, more territory, and did not concede a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, as Arsenal went into the sheds with a 1-0 lead.

Arteta’s side started the second-half as they finished the first, in control. While it was not reflected on the scoreboard, the visitors were in command. Villa did grow into the game but couldn’t register a shot on goal until the 60th minute from John McGinn.

Villa continued to control possession without making any real inroads as Arsenal dismantled Steven Gerrard’s side defensively. The Gunners kept the home side with a single shot on target for the entire game as they saw off Villa and extended their lead inside the Premier League top four to four points.

The game provided plenty of talking points, and here they are.

1-0 to the Arsenal

As the famous saying goes, 1-0 to the Arsenal. In truth, the game felt more like a three or four-nil result, such was the Gunners’ dominance.

Mikel Arteta’s side completely shut down Aston Villa on their home deck while only allowing a single shot on target for the game.

The result had everything that is now the norm for an Arteta-led side: creativity, slick and quick ball movement, a goal, and a defensive steel not seen in previous seasons.

Make no mistake about it, this was as dominant of a performance as the Gunners have put out this season, even if they fatigued at the end. Off the back of the defeat to Liverpool midweek, to produce this kind of gritty display shows the character of the team.

They showed their class for the majority of the game, and then had to show resilience with a battling defensive display. Overall it was a superb outing for Arsenal as they moved one step closer to that coveted top-four spot.

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Bukayo Saka Getting Kicked to Pieces

It’s a weekly occurrence. This young man is getting his ankles kicked to pieces with rotational fouls as well as plain aggression, with the lack of action from referees reaching obscene levels.

You worry, too, because his long-term health is at risk with the volume of challenges he has to face multiple times per game.

As for his performance, the young Englishman was again on another level at Villa Park. Up against Ashley Young, the 20-year-old toyed with the veteran and made him look average throughout.

Such was his dominance that Villa players kept resorting to chopping down the winger at every chance. This led to Arteta giving the Saka an early day, coming off in the 69th minute to protect him from further harm.

His goal in the first half was opportunistic but was a deserved goal. With that, he moves to Arsenal’s joint leading scorer in all competitions alongside Smith Rowe on 10, while also being the player to score Arsenal’s 2000th Premier League goal for good measure. Again, another Man of the Match performance.

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Thomas Partey Dropping Weekly 9/10 Performances

Rating his performances for Arsenal as 4/10 was the best thing he ever did. He’s now dropping 9/10’s every week. The Ghanaian again was instrumental in Arsenal’s dominance in the first half. His ability to receive the ball, facing his own goal, and then turn and slip away and start attacks is devastatingly effective.

Constantly keeping the ball moving from side to side, Partey was always available as an option for his back four as Arsenal continuously played through a poor Villa side.

His influence on games is so prominent. His ability to keep the ball under heavy pressure, produce some superb body feints and then have the vision for a pass is second to none. There was one Cruyff turn in the second half that even had Villa fans applauding. Probably.

While his offensive abilities were on show, when Villa was in possession he tucked in and shielded the back four as Arsenal gave absolutely nothing away for the majority of the game.

It has taken a while, but Partey is now firmly the midfield metronome that Arsenal has been lacking since the days of Patrick Vieira.

In full flight, he is a joy to watch.

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A Significant Step Towards Champions League Qualification

The loss to Liverpool in midweek threatened to derail Arsenal’s recent good form if they didn’t bounce straight back on Saturday. Somewhat brought back to earth with the loss, it meant the game against Villans held extra significance.

The Gunners did not show any emotional damage from the 2-0 defeat as they put Villa to the sword. The win extends Arsenal’s lead in fourth over Manchester United to four points with a game in hand.

Looking at how Arsenal went about their business today, one would not have thought they suffered defeat midweek. Instead, they came out dominantly and, in many aspects, bullied Villa into submission. To have produced as they did despite playing three times in six days, including just 60 hours previously, is a credit to the character and professionalism of the team.

With still ten games to go in the season, Arsenal has their Champions League dreams in their own hands. Still, with both Manchester United (home) and Tottenham (away) to come, among others, this result against Villa is now supremely special. Looking at the fixture list there is no denying that Arsenal have it toughest, while Spurs’ run-in is distinctly easier on paper.

The Gunners have not secured their place in Europe next season, but they placed another stone on the path they will have to walk to reach their goal.