Arsenal kept their perfect start to the season intact as they produced one of the narrow football results of the midweek action in the Premier League. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Douglas Luiz scored directly from a corner in the 74th minute to equalize. Gabriel Martinelli scored the game-winner three minutes later to send the visitors into the relegation zone.
Player ratings
Arsenal: Ramsdale (6), White (6), Saliba (7), Gabriel (7), Tierney (6), Lokonga (6), Xhaka (7), Odegaard (6), Saka (7), Martinelli (8), Jesus (8).
Subs: Tomiyasu (6), Smith Rowe (N/A), Nketiah (N/A), Holding (N/A).
Aston Villa: Martinez (6), Cash (5), Mings (4), Konsa (4), Digne (5), Kamara (5), Ramsey (5), McGinn (5), Buendia (6), Watkins (6), Bailey (6).
Subs: Douglas Luiz (8), Coutinho (6), Ings (N/A)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus
Managers Reaction
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “We are winning football matches we deserve to win with the way we are performing and playing. We have to continue. The way we play in the first half, with the number of chances is really pleasing as a coach. It’s the most difficult thing in football to score goals but today we had big chances we didn’t put away. The goal of Martinelli is a difficult technique and he managed to hit the target and that gives you a chance.”
Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard: “We worked ever so hard to stay with Arsenal, throwing bodies on the line to keep the ball out of our goal. We got one moment wrong, we could have got out quicker to Martinelli. But Arsenal certainly deserved to be in front at half-time. Our technical level was miles off. I asked for improvement and we grew in the second half, we were passing the ball better, our confidence was growing and Douglas provides a moment of magic and we get the game exactly where we want it.”
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