Arsenal’s clinical finishing was the difference in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Gunners dominated possession for large spells but escaped two bad misses from Ollie Watkins, the latter thanks to a superb David Raya save, before Leandro Trossard emerged off the bench to open the scoring. Thomas Partey then made it two from range.
A stop-start opening at Villa Park deprived either side of any real momentum, Bukayo Saka forcing Emi Martinez into action in the lone opportunity of the opening quarter amid a trio of injury stoppages for Villa players.
Sloppy play out the back from Arsenal gifted Watkins the first major chance of the match on 25 minutes when Morgan Rogers teed up the England striker unmarked in the box, only for him to shoot wide.
Kai Havertz did little better when arriving at the near post to meet Gabriel Martinelli’s low cross, which he poked wide shortly before half-time.
Watkins saw another chance go begging on the hour mark when Amadou Onana’s shot deflected onto the crossbar and fell for the England man to plant a diving header into the empty net, however Raya raised himself to produce an early contender for save of the season and parry it clear.
Villa began to up the tempo over a sustained period for the first time all evening and Ezri Konsa’s near-post header narrowly evaded his teammates and the far post.
But Arsenal punished the hosts’ lack of clinical finishing when substitute Trossard netted with his first touch. Martin Odegaard’s overhit pass when just kept in by Saka, whose cross bounced off Rogers to find the Belgian unmarked, and he swept home into the bottom corner.
Saka then had a major role as the Gunners made it 2-0, rolling the ball to Partey on 77 minutes. The Ghanaian’s low effort looked to be within Martinez’s reach but the keeper couldn’t keep it out and Arsenal had their second goal and all three points in the bag.
