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Bukayo Saka’s opener was Arsenal’s 2,000th goal in the Premier League, with the Gunners becoming the third side to reach this milestone after Manchester United and LiverpoolArsenal strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League with a narrow victory at Aston Villa.
Bukayo Saka was the standout player as the Gunners secured a sixth win from seven games to move four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.
The England international scored the only goal in the first half with a low drive from the edge of the area after Villa failed to properly clear a cross into the box.
Villa improved after the break and went close when Ollie Watkins' deflected shot clipped the outside of the post, before substitute Danny Ings sent a looping header on to the roof of the net.
Saka stars as Arsenal secure vital win
Arsenal's jubilant celebrations at the final whistle showed just how significant they feel this result could be as the north London club seek to return to the Champions League for the first time in five years.
The win was based on a vibrant first-half display, followed up by a resilient defensive performance after the break.
Saka was excellent during the opening 45 minutes, tormenting 39-year-old Ashley Young who was in the Villa side for the injured Lucas Digne.
Saka got in behind Young inside the opening two minutes to create a chance for Emile Smith Rowe, while another cross struck Ezri Konsa and needed a fine stop from Emiliano Martinez to prevent an own goal.
The goal came from a quickly taken free-kick that caught Villa out down the right, with Cedric's cross only cleared to Saka at the edge of the box, who fired home through a crowd of players for his 10th goal of the season in all competitions.
Arsenal tired after the break which allowed Villa to get more of a grip on the game, but they prevented the home side from having a shot on target until the final minute of stoppage time, when Philippe Coutinho's free-kick was pushed away by Bernd Leno.
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Aston Villa
Squad number1Player nameMartínez- Squad number2Player nameCash
- Squad number4Player nameKonsa
- Squad number5Player nameMings
- Squad number18Player nameYoung
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
- Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
- Squad number10Player nameBuendía
- Squad number11Player nameWatkins
- Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
- Squad number15Player nameTraoré
- Squad number20Player nameIngs
- Squad number31Player nameBailey
Arsenal
Squad number1Player nameLeno- Squad number17Player nameCédric Soares
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number3Player nameTierney
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number34Player nameXhaka- Squad number7Player nameSaka
Squad number9Player nameLacazette- Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
Squad number16Player nameHolding- Squad number19Player namePépé
- Squad number30Player nameNketiah
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Martínez
- 2Cash
- 4Konsa
- 5MingsBooked at 33mins
- 18Young
- 7McGinnBooked at 34mins
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 41J RamseyBooked at 15minsSubstituted forBaileyat 69'minutes
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forTraoréat 69'minutes
- 11WatkinsSubstituted forIngsat 82'minutes
- 23Coutinho
Substitutes
- 8Sanson
- 15Traoré
- 16Chambers
- 20Ings
- 25Olsen
- 31Bailey
- 33Chukwuemeka
- 47Iroegbunam
- 58O'Reilly
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Leno
- 17Cédric SoaresBooked at 57mins
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 3Tierney
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forHoldingat 86'minutes
- 5ParteyBooked at 65mins
- 34XhakaBooked at 45mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forPépéat 69'minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 78'minutes
- 10Smith Rowe
Substitutes
- 16Holding
- 19Pépé
- 20Tavares
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 33Okonkwo
- 69Swanson
- 82Hutchinson
Referee:Andy Madley
Attendance:41,956
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Arsenal 1.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Arsenal 1.
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom right corner.
Foul by Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal).
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) header from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross.
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) header from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Arsenal. Rob Holding replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross.
Foul by Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal).
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa).
Substitution, Aston Villa. Danny Ings replaces Ollie Watkins.
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