Arsenal maintain perfect start with win over Villa

Gabriel Jesus fires Arsenal in front on Wednesday night on their way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at the Emirates. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season with another dominant display against Aston Villa on Wednesday night in front of a packed Emirates Stadium crowd.

Mikel Arteta was forced to make another last gasp change in his midfield with Mohammed Elneny injured and Albert Sambi Lokonga came in for him. The visitors went for Ollie Watkins upfront, Phillippe Coutinho passed late fitness test to make the bench alongside Danny Ings.

The trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were denied by former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal in the first half but there was no denying the new star upfront for the Gunners when it was time to find the net.

Granit Xhaka fired one towards the Villa goal midway into the second half and it was spilled by Martinez for a simple Gabriel Jesus tap in. Arsenal kept on going but the first half would end with the hosts having just a slim advantage for all their dominance.

Arsenal continued their good work in the second half but it was nearly undone with an unlikely goal in the 70^th minute by substitute Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian scored straight from the corner kick but replays showed an infringement on the goalkeeper which VAR surprisingly allowed.

As the Gunners have done almost throughout the season so far, they bounced back just after two minutes with Saka finding Martinelli in the Villa area for a goal of great technique. It was Martinelli’s third of the season.

"We are obviously really happy because we are winning football matches that we deserve to win," Arteta said.

"The way we are performing and playing, we need to continue. Again, there are a lot of things that we have to improve and you could see that in the second half, but the way we played in the first half, the number of chances, how much we generated, how dominant we were and the energy that we generated is really pleasing as a coach."

Arsenal’s next game is against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a game that would pass as the ultimate test for all the Gunners’ worth in the league but they stay on top, above Manchester City who again tore apart Nottingham Forest with yet another Erling Haaland hattrick.