Arsenal hit three past lacklustre Villa

Published on: 22 October 2021

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the fourth player to score a Premier League goal for Arsenal on every day of the week, after Thierry Henry, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal gained a thoroughly deserved victory over Aston Villa to move into the top half of the Premier League table.

Thomas Partey headed in Emile Smith Rowe's corner for his first goal for the Gunners - having earlier hit the crossbar.

Right at the end of the first half, Arsenal were given a penalty after a long video assistant referee review for a Matt Targett foul on Alexandre Lacazette.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty was saved excellently by former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez, but the Gabon striker put home the rebound from close range.

Villa improved on a thoroughly wretched first half, but Smith Rowe scored Arsenal's third 11 minutes into the second half.

He won the ball in his own half and then finished the move via a deflection and the post.

The visitors got a consolation when Jacob Ramsey curled his first Villa goal into the top corner from 20 yards. They put on good pressure and created a few chances in the closing stages but it was too little, too late.

    Follow reaction to the game hereGo to the Arsenal pageGo to the Aston Villa page

More like it from Arsenal

This did not look like a game between two teams sitting next to each other in the table - but Arsenal were 12th and Villa 13th before kick-off.

Arsenal are capable of good spells - like at the start of Monday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace - and good games - like the 3-1 win over Tottenham.

This was one of the good games, well for 80 minutes.

Aston Villa were the opposite of their 3-2 defeat by Wolves. They collapsed there in the final 10 minutes - but this time that was when they they had most of their chances.

They did not manage a shot in the first half, the first time since May 2018 that has happened to a team playing against Arsenal in the league.

The Gunners should have been out of sight - Partey had hit the woodwork from close range before headed them into the lead.

Aubameyang had a goal disallowed for a debatable Lacazette foul and Martinez made several smart saves.

But Arsenal got the second they deserved in first-half injury time. The crowd thought Craig Pawson was whistling for half-time but he was actually stopping play for a VAR consultation.

Targett was about to clear the ball when Lacazette stepped across him and drew a foul instead. The penalty was given and Aubameyang scored at the second attempt.

Villa had more threat when they brought on winger Leon Bailey for defender Axel Tuanzebe at half-time, but after their first couple of chances, Smith Rowe wrapped it up.

Or so it looked until Ramsey scored the best goal of the game. Ollie Watkins, Ramsey and Bailey all had chances to for Villa but could not set up a tense finale.

Player of the match

Smith RoweEmile Smith Rowe

with an average of 8.57

    ArsenalArsenalArsenalAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa

ArsenalAvgSquad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating

8.57

Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating

8.05

Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating

7.88

Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating

7.77

Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating

7.70

Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating

7.63

Squad number14Player nameAubameyangAverage rating

7.62

Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating

7.58

Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating

7.58

Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating

7.54

Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating

7.52

Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating

6.58

Squad number15Player nameMaitland-NilesAverage rating

6.27

Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating

6.21

Aston VillaAvgSquad number41Player nameRamseyAverage rating

5.67

Squad number1Player nameMartínezAverage rating

5.23

Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating

4.88

Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating

4.01

Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating

3.99

Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating

3.97

Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating

3.95

Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating

3.76

Squad number21Player nameEl GhaziAverage rating

3.76

Squad number16Player nameTuanzebeAverage rating

3.73

Squad number20Player nameIngsAverage rating

3.64

Squad number3Player nameTargettAverage rating

3.64

Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating

3.60

Squad number10Player nameBuendíaAverage rating

3.40

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsArsenal

Formation 4-4-2

32Ramsdale18Tomiyasu4White6Gabriel20Varela Tavares7Saka23Sambi Lokonga5Partey10Smith Rowe9Lacazette14Aubameyang

    32Ramsdale18Tomiyasu4White6Gabriel20Varela Tavares7Saka23Sambi LokongaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 73'minutes5Partey10Smith Rowe9LacazetteSubstituted forØdegaardat 68'minutes14AubameyangBooked at 66minsSubstituted forMartinelliat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

    1Leno8Ødegaard15Maitland-Niles16Holding17Cédric Soares19Pépé25Elneny31Kolasinac35Martinelli

Aston Villa

Formation 3-4-1-2

1Martínez4Konsa16Tuanzebe5Mings2Cash7McGinn6Douglas Luiz3Targett10Buendía20Ings11Watkins

    1Martínez4Konsa16TuanzebeSubstituted forBaileyat 45'minutes5MingsBooked at 27mins2Cash7McGinnBooked at 32mins6Douglas LuizBooked at 84mins3TargettBooked at 60mins10BuendíaSubstituted forRamseyat 68'minutes20IngsSubstituted forEl Ghaziat 77'minutes11WatkinsBooked at 2mins

Substitutes

    8Sanson12Steer18Young19Nakamba21El Ghazi30Hause31Bailey35Archer41Ramsey

Referee:Craig PawsonAttendance:59,496Match StatsHome TeamArsenalAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome22Away10Shots on TargetHome9Away4CornersHome7Away4FoulsHome17Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1.

90'+4'Post update

Attempt missed. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).

90'+3'Post update

Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal).

90'+2'Post update

John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+1'Substitution

Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang because of an injury.

90'Post update

Attempt missed. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matt Targett.

87'Post update

Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).

87'Post update

Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

84'Booking

Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.

84'Post update

Foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal).

84'Post update

Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83'Post update

Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Matthew Cash.

82'goalGoal!

Goal! Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Leon Bailey.

81'Post update

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81'Post update

Foul by Matt Targett (Aston Villa).

79'Post update

Attempt saved. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.

78'Post update

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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Source: bbc.com

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