Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Leandro Trossard inspires Gunners to win
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal: Trossard came off the bench to score before Thomas Partey added a second
Arsenal secured a fine win against Aston Villa away from home after an instant impact from substitute Leandro Trossard who broke the deadlock before getting involved in the build-up to Thomas Partey’s goal.
The teams played out a frustrating first half at Villa Park that was beset with stoppages and breaks of play that favoured the home side and stopped Mikel Arteta’s men finding any rhythm. The Gunners dominated the early stages and Bukayo Saka was denied by Emi Martinez touching his shot wide of the far post.
Villa created two huge opportunities and both came to Ollie Watkins. The first saw him turn the ball wide after Morgan Rogers picks him out in the box and the second saw the striker’s headed effort palmed away by a scrambling David Raya in what could have been the moment of the game.
Trossard was then brought on and arrived at the right time to turn a loose ball home from inside the box. He then drove Arsenal up the pitch and found Saka at the far post. Saka rolled a pass back to Partey whose shot from range beat Martinez to give the Gunners a cushion.
Arsenal take the points and continue their winning runs.
Relive the action from today’s Premier League encounter below:
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
The Gunners have won 17 of their 19 top-flight matches in 2024, with their only defeat coming at home to Aston Villa in April. They can equal the record of 18 league wins from the first 20 matches of a calendar year, set by Liverpool in 1982 and matched by Manchester City in both 2019 and 2021.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Arsenal have won eight of their nine Premier League away games so far in 2024, drawing the other, scoring 28 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. It is their longest unbeaten away streak since a run of 12 in 2016 under Arsene Wenger.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Aston Villa are looking to win their opening two Premier League matches of a season for a fourth time, having done so in 1995-96, 1999-00 and 2020-21.
They have won their opening home league fixture in each of the past four seasons – and began 2023-24 with eight straight top-flight victories at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Arsenal have won 14 Premier League games at Villa Park, their joint most at an away venue along with Selhurst Park.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Aston Villa did the double over Arsenal last season, accounting for 40% of the Gunners’ Premier League defeats in 2023-24.
Villa have won five of the past nine Premier League meetings, keeping a clean sheet each time. It’s as many victories as they’d managed in their previous 46 attempts against Arsenal.
Gabriel Jesus not on the bench
Neither Fabio Vieira nor Gabriel Jesus are on the bench for Arsenal. Vieira is being rumoured with a move to Porto so as the transfer window comes to a close Arsenal are taking no chances with the midfielder.
Gabriel Jesus meanwhile seems to have picked up an injury (rumoured to be with his groin) and will play no part in today’s proceedings.
Arsenal set to send Fabio Vieira back to Porto?
Arsenal could lose Fabio Vieira as they move closer to securing Mikel Merino in a midfield shuffle.
Fabrizio Romano reports that the Gunners will send Vieira to Porto on loan.
There will be no buy option, yet the Portuguese club will cover Vieira’s salary for the season.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal team changes
Unai Emery makes no changes to his Aston Villa side backing the team who defeated West Ham last time out to perform well against Arsenal too.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko with Jurrien Timber at left-back.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Aston Villa v Arsenal early team news
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana was the only one of Villa’s eight summer signings to start against West Ham last weekend, when full-backs Ian Maatsen and Kosta Nedeljkovic made their club debuts as late substitutes.
Arsenal don’t have any fresh fitness concerns though Mikel Arteta is unsure whether Jurrien Timber is ready to start as the club carefully manage his comeback from long-term injury.
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