Arsenal maintained their 100% win record in the Premier League after another impressive performance as Mikel Arteta's side beat Aston Villa.
The north London outfit controlled large periods of the game and would have kept a clean sheet if it wasn't for Douglas Luiz's freak corner kick goal. Goals from Brazilian duo Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli were enough to seal all three points as the Gunners head into a busy month of September top of the Premier League.
Injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny left Arteta's options in midfield a little light, with Arsenal actively pursuing a central midfield signing before the transfer window slams shut tonight. football.london understands that Luiz is among a list of players that the Gunners have looked at in the past, but it remains to be seen whether technical director Edu looks to negotiate a deal for the Villa midfielder.
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When Luiz's corner kick flew into the back of the net, Arsenal supporters may have rolled their eyes in the past thinking "we've seen this before," but not this time. Instead, the Gunners conceding a goal was met with a roar of support with Martinelli putting the hosts back ahead just 151 seconds later.
There are fitness concerns ahead of Arsenal's trip to Old Trafford this weekend, with club captain Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale picking up knocks last night. So, after the Gunners continued their perfect start to the new season, here's how the national media reacted to the win.
"Shhhhh! The celebration police might hear. Arsenal won't care if they do, of course. Why would they? Top of the Premier League, five victories out of five - what's not celebrate? Having spent the last few days being condemned for having the audacity to show emotion after beating Fulham on Saturday, the Gunners were at it again.
Granted, they made harder work of this victory over Aston Villa than they should have but that's even more reason to rejoice. Of course, we'll have a more accurate reading of how well Arsenal are equipped to end their Champions League exile when they visit improving Manchester United on Sunday.
But for now - it's the perfect season. If you can't celebrate perfection?"
"Mikel Arteta's side dominated throughout at the Emirates and gained the lead when £45million man Gabriel Jesus took advantage of an error from visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Villa equalised through Douglas Luiz before Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner.
With a trip to Old Trafford on the horizon, Arsenal would've been fully aware of how important it was to beat Villa. A victory was needed to make it 15 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League and keep them top of the table heading into Sunday's clash.
Arsenal's desperation to put Villa to the sword was obvious from the outset. The Gunners came flying out of the blocks and nearly took the lead inside 15 minutes, with four shots worrying Martinez."
"If the season were a few months older, and if Arsenal did not have a decade and a half of underachievement to nag at them, this might be called the stuff of champions. Make no mistake, the league leaders mauled Aston Villa here: for most of the night it was barely a contest but a nasty surprise was never out of the question while they led by only one goal.
With the caveat that Arsenal will ultimately be judged on how they handle such setbacks against better opponents than a woeful Villa, there is a growing sense that this side possesses a mettle so many of its predecessors have lacked. They recovered from a similarly poor concession to beat Fulham on Saturday; repeating the trick was on one level a reminder that they have a ricket in them but, on another, evidence that they have learned how to clear their heads."
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