Aston Villa moved to inside two points of the Premier League summit as they continued their excellent dwelling type with victory over Arsenal.
The Gunners had led the desk heading into the weekend however slipped to a 1-0 loss courtesy of captain John McGinn’s seventh-minute strike – with Villa extending their successful dwelling league run to fifteen video games within the course of.
Arsenal twice had the ball within the internet within the second half however Bukayo Saka was offside earlier than Kai Havertz was denied a late equaliser having been penalised for handball.
Aston Villa beat Arsenal to proceed their successful dwelling run
The Villans have now gained 15 consecutive matches at Villa Park!#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/0k2T2u2Uho
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 9, 2023
Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery would have significantly loved getting one over his successor – though Mikel Arteta watched on glumly from the administrators’ field as he served a one-match touchline ban.
Villa beat champions Manchester City right here on Wednesday night time and this success reveals that they’re reliable challengers for the title this season.
Arsenal had been disjointed for giant intervals of the sport with Saka, specifically, struggling to make an affect on proceedings in a way which he has turn out to be accustomed.
This season, Arsenal have typically struggled to interrupt down a low-block whereas largely having fun with themselves in opposition to sides who look to press.
Therefore, this was testomony as soon as once more to the ruthlessness and guile with which Villa make use of Emery’s ways and proceed to befuddle among the greatest groups within the land.
Saka had probability to open the scoring early on however, after drifting in unmarked on the again submit he couldn’t make significant contact on Gabriel Martinelli’s swinging cross.
Villa would hit the entrance quickly after, taking part in out from the again and never letting Arsenal get close to the ball as Leon Bailey burst into loads of area to interrupt down the best earlier than taking part in in McGinn, who had time to take a contact and switch earlier than ending emphatically previous David Raya.
Having been so front-footed and pushed within the win over City, there may have naturally been some drop-off lower than three days later however the dwelling facet had been operating the present within the opening quarter of the sport.
History is made. pic.twitter.com/2Hk8iXF2tw
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 9, 2023
Martin Odegaard then shot into the side-netting as Arsenal eventually started to string collectively some passes within the ultimate third.
Martinelli was subsequent up, beating the onrushing Emiliano Martinez to a ball over the top and looping a shot at objective that was cleared away by Diego Carlos.
With the guests increase a head of steam, Odegaard had a nice probability to equalise however noticed a shot from 12 yards out as soon as once more saved out by Martinez, who then saved from Gabriel Jesus earlier than the break.
Arsenal noticed requires an early second-half penalty turned down after Douglas Luiz caught Jesus however a VAR test shortly got here down on the facet of the hosts.
Miscommunication within the Villa field nearly gifted Arsenal their equaliser as Martinez regarded to assert a nook however may solely palm the ball into the again of Ollie Watkins, who was leaping to clear, and it hit the submit earlier than being collected.
Odegaard, who had arguably wasted Arsenal’s greatest probability within the first half, then skewed a shot horribly broad as Villa’s objective continued to dwell a charmed life.
Despite clearly tiring, Villa had been nonetheless in a position to pose a risk themselves as a easy ball by way of the center ultimately noticed half-time substitute Moussa Diaby picked out and he performed in Lucas Digne, who shot low at Raya.
Saka then had the ball within the internet just for the offside flag to carry an abrupt finish to celebrations earlier than Raya was once more referred to as upon to avoid wasting from Watkins.
Havertz thought he had levelled within the final minute however referee Jarred Gillett awarded Villa a free-kick for handball in opposition to the German, with a prolonged VAR test in the end siding with the on-pitch official.
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