Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal: Avenging Gunners stay perfect

On David Raya’s big save: “He saved us a couple of times today and showed us last week as well. He kept us in the game and it’s great that we finished it off at the end.”

Was this a big win, even in Week 2? “Everyone knows what a tough place it is to come and play here and win a game. Another clean sheet and a perfect away win.”

On calling for the ball before his goal: “I want to feel the ball that’s the type of player I am. I told them in the first half, I knew there was space in behind and I was hoping the ball was going to land by the penalty spot. ... I tried to read it and the ball came to me perfectly and all I have to do is put it in the back of the net.

On whether he’s disappointed to be a sub: “Everyone wants to start and play games but it’s always nice to help the team and get goals. It’s all emotions as well and when you score it’s almost like you don’t know what’s happening. I’m glad that I helped the team tonight.

“It’s not about expecting. I know the competition in the team and we push it each other. Everyone wants to start and play games and I’m very happy that I helped the team and had an impact and that’s all I can do.”

“Everyone is a hero here because we work together.”

“It’s a crucial moment of the game that we are nil-nil and I thought we controlled very well the rest of the game and I was there to save Ollie’s header.”

“A shot from outside the box, little deflection. My knee is on the floor, I see it looping over my head but I see the rebound and Ollie just going there. I tried to react as quickly as possible, so I put my hand there... it’s a lovely save.”

“Sometimes you do a drill where you have to save one ball and get up quick to save another. It’s a repetition of years to do that. This time it has paid off, sometimes it doesn’t, but today it’s sweet that it does pay off.”

“This is a difficult save of course, but of top of my head I don’t think that this is my best save on top with some others at Brentford.”

A solid three points for Arsenal and a measure of revenge to boot.

Arsenal had 61% of the ball and showed some edge in committing 15 fouls to Villa’s eight.

Villa out-attempted the visitors 11-9 and led 1.35-1.07 in expected goals.

Hold on, Jacob Ramsey is tearing down the left side and into the 18.

He pushes it a bit too far ahead of him and that’s all a backtracking William Saliba needs to make a sliding intervention.

Saliba has read the game so well today, but this was hustle and timing. So good.

Still 2-0 Arsenal, 85'

Thomas Partey takes a lay-off from Bukayo Saka and snaps a curling low shot toward the near post.

Emiliano Martinez dives left and gets a hand on it but it’s not a strong one and merely pushes it further into the lower 90.

That’ll probably do it. 2-0, 77'

And now Riccardo Calafiori makes his Premier League debut in place of Jurrien Timber.

Wow. Leandro Trossard has done it again. He’s scored another crucial goal off the bench.

Bukayo Saka is played in and just keeps the ball in and pulls it back.

Morgan Rogers tries to clear but the ball deflects straight to Trossard who scuffs home a low shot.

Arsenal lead 1-0! Pandemonium in the away end as Trossard and Co. celebrate right in front of them.

Just off the bench, Jhon Duran almost heads home.

A free kick into the box finds Konsa at the back post and he volleys it across goal but Duran can’t get on the end of it with a header.

The Holte End was trying to suck that ball into the back of the net.

As 0-0’s go, this is a belter.

Morgan Rogers runs 60 yards before seeing his shot deflected wide. Both teams going for it on the counter.

Lovely stuff. Great entertainment. Villa’s fans are going bonkers.

Onana’s deflected shot loops up and hits the crossbar.

Raya then somehow gets up and pushes away Ollie Watkins’ header which looked certain to go in.

Watkins put it in the one place Raya could save it but that is still a great reaction and recovery stop.

There is nothing between these teams and the pattern of this game is so similar to the two from last season.

Villa won both of those and Arsenal failed to score. Surely lightning won’t strike twice. Right?

Arsenal are looking a little rattled by Villa so far.

Here are my half time thoughts in more detail. Come for the analysis. Stay for the Villa fan jumping in with a big “UTV!” in the background. Love it.

That was a tight, tense game. Exactly as we expected.

Arsenal never got into their rhythm after plenty of stoppages early on and Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines.

Aston Villa grew into the game and Unai Emery will be happy with that.

Here’s a look at some key stats:

• Total shots: Aston Villa 3, Arsenal 4
• Expected goals: Aston Villa 0.42, Arsenal 0.50
• Big chances missed: Aston Villa 1, Arsenal 1
• Possession: Aston Villa 31, Arsenal 69

This all feels very similar to the last two games between Villa and Arsenal.

We know how those ended...

Villa had the best chance which Watkins dragged wide. Arsenal can’t control Rogers and there is very little between these teams.

It’s almost like Arsenal are trying to play a little bit on the counter as they’ve had very little control in that first half despite having lots of the ball. Can they beat Villa at their own game?

Morgan Rogers has taken over this game.

Wonderful driving runs, one after another, from midfield.

Arsenal don’t know how to stop him as he’s dropping into pockets behind Rice and Partey. The only way they can halt him is to foul him, which Rice does.

Home fans are loving it here at Villa Park.

Morgan Rogers with a Messi-esque run past 5 Arsenal players there.

His shot across goal is saved by David Raya who collects the ball at the second attempt.

Much better from Aston Villa. That has the home fans off their seats and moments later Bailey and Rogers are charging forward again but the final ball was just off.

Good stuff from Arsenal.

Declan Rice with a lovely ball around the corner to Martinelli and he picks out Havertz at the near post but under pressure he can’t wrap his foot around his shot.

The cross was just behind him. A tough chance for Havertz but that was much better build up play from Arsenal.

Proper lively now! Kai Havertz is set free but his cross is brilliantly cleared.

At the other end Saliba goes down under a challenge, then McGinn whacks the ball at Saliba while he’s on the floor.

That leads to White smashing it at McGinn as a melee ensues.

Fiesty.

McGinn’s quick free kick sets Rogers free but his ball into the box is cut out.

Arsenal then launch a counter which ends in Declan Rice firing over.

That is much better. The game is really opening up now and the home fans are getting excited. Villa started slow but that was probably due to the injuries and stoppages early on.

You just expected the net to bulge. Ollie Watkins misses a glorious chance.

Bailey was wrestling with Gabriel and won the ball back.

Rogers plays in Watkins but he drags it wide. Wow. Arsenal let off the hook.

Was it a foul by Bailey on Gabriel? I don’t think so. VAR would have looked at it but Bailey and Gabriel were going at it 50/50.

Bad news early on for Aston Villa.

Right back Matty Cash went down after trying to defend a cross. He can’t carry on but does walk off the pitch under his own steam.

18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic is on at right back, with the Serbian impressing in preseason and now he has a chance in the Premier League.

Wow. Chaos.

A corner comes in and Martinez goes down with nobody near him.

The ball drops amid a crowd of players and hits the crossbar before bouncing clear.

Villa were awarded a free kick, presumably for Martinez going down. But if that had gone in, VAR would surely have overturned it. There was nobody near Martinez.

Top stop from Emiliano Martinez.

Bukayo Saka cuts inside and sends one of his trademark low curlers towards the bottom corner but Martinez tips it wide and celebrates in front of the Holte End.

How does Saka do that every time and still confuse defenders!? Mesmerizing.

One team has title aspirations. One team has top four hopes.

Aston Villa are the only team to beat Arsenal in the Premier League in the calendar year 2024, and Unai Emery’s side match up very well against Mikel Arteta’s tactics.

I could hardly hear myself talk here. Wow. What a special place Villa Park is.

The Arsenal left back finds himself in central midfield, as Arsenal’s full backs do in Arteta’s system, and turns superbly before trying to find Bukayo Saka with a pass.

Villa clear it but Saka and Mikel Arteta both applaud Timber.

That was lovely stuff from the Dutchman, who is making up for lost time after his injury-hit season in 2023-24.

After torrential rain in most of England on Saturday, the storm clouds have parted and the blue skies are out.

What a day for a game here at Villa Park, one of the truly historic footballing cathedrals of English football.

Given the direction both teams have been heading in, there is plenty of optimism in the air among both fans of Villa and Arsenal.

Unai Emery has gone with the same starting lineup as against West Ham last weekend.

It’s a 4-4-1-1 with Rogers supporting Watkins in attack. This is a perfect set up for counters.

Aston Villa starting lineup

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bailey, McGinn, Onana, Tielemans; Rogers; Watkins

Mikel Arteta has brought Jurrien Timber in at left back, as the versatile Dutchman is back fit and should play a huge role this season.

Arsenal starting lineup

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

Who are the favorites for this one?

Surprisingly Arsenal are heavy favorites. That’s not because they aren’t great, because they are, but they lost home and away to Aston Villa last season and this isn’t a particularly great matchup for the Gunners stylistically.

These odds below may surprise a few...

Betting odds provided by our partner, BetMGM BetMGM is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on BetMGM for the first time after clicking our links.

Aston Villa +310, Arsenal -175 - Draw: +125

How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal

What a brilliant matchup this is, as Villa beat Arsenal home and away last season and will be relishing the chance to cause an upset early in the season. Emery’s counter-attacking side match up well against the possession and swagger of Arteta’s talented youngsters and last season Villa caught Arsenal out twice and that was the difference in the title race.

• Kick off time: 12:30pm ET
• Venue: Villa Park
• TV channel: USA Network
• Streaming: Online via NBC.com