Second-half objectives from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey gave us a deserved three factors at Villa Park to proceed our profitable begin.

After a fiercely fought first-half, David Raya made an impressive save to maintain it scoreless earlier than Trossard got here off the bench, and nearly instantly put us forward. He completed effectively from Saka’s cutback.

Saka then arrange the second for Thomas Partey, whose shot from 20 yards was too scorching for Emi Martinez to deal with.

The outcome means we now have now gained 9 of our ten away Premier League video games in 2024 (drawing the opposite) scoring 30 and conceding simply twice in that run. Extremely we now have by no means trailed in that point both.

 

Saka denied

 

We had the primary assault of the night. Jurrien Timber – beginning his first recreation for us for the reason that opening day of final season – performed himself out of bother on the again and launched a counter-attack from deep.

Gabriel Martinelli hared away down the left flank with Martin Odegaard and Saka in help. His go was a bit behind Saka, who nonetheless managed to ship in a cross that was half-cleared to Declan Rice, however his speculative effort was saved by Martinez

Saka then introduced a a lot sharper save from the keeper. He reduce inside on his left foot in trademark trend, however his low shot was effectively turned behind for a nook by the ex-Gunner within the Villa aim. The ball bounced in opposition to the crossbar from the set piece, however the referee had blown for a foul within the melee.

 

Missed possibilities

 

The sport was pretty cease begin within the opening 20 minutes or so, with a number of Villa gamers needing therapy, and Matty Money needing to get replaced.

We got an enormous wake-up name when Gabriel acquired caught in possession simply outdoors his personal penalty space. Trying to defend the ball, he was robbed by Leon Bailey, the ball was labored to Ollie Watkins alone within the space however fortunately he rolled his shot large with solely Raya to beat.

Gabriel was left interesting for a referee’s whistle that by no means got here.

The following probability fell our method, once more as the results of a fast counter. Kai Havertz simply sprung the offside entice, however his low cross was reduce out with Saka lurking dangerously.

Havertz was on the tip of our subsequent alternative. A beautiful go from Declan Rice launched Martinelli, however his low cross in the direction of the close to submit was prodded large by our German ahead.

 

Dave saves

 

The primary half was carefully contested and cagey, whereas the second interval additionally took a while to spark. Ten minutes after the restart we have been indebted to the great reactions of Raya, who made an unimaginable save from Watkins. Onana’s shot from the sting of the world was deflected up over the keeper and in opposition to the bar. The rebound fell to the pinnacle of Watkins in entrance of aim, however Raya sprung again to his ft and turned away the England’s man goalbound effort. Merely Breathtaking.

On the different finish Odegaard discovered Saka within the field and bearing down on Martinez. He tried to take it around the keeper, however simply had the ball taken off his toes on the sting of the six-yard field.

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Raya on his surprise save

 

Immediate impression

 

The sport was on a knife edge, and Mikel Arteta despatched on Trossard to exchange Martinelli. With just about his first contact, he fired us forward.

Saka acquired to the byline first, scampering onto a throughball and nearly hooking the ball again earlier than it went out of play. There was Trossard, 5 yards contained in the field, to information his first time shot low into the nook.

 

Partey time

 

The sport was nonetheless fiercely aggressive, however then Partey gave us respiration area. Gabriel broke the strains with a looking go, Trossard crossed for Saka, however he was taken large. He saved his cool, seemed for choices and reduce it again to the Ghanaian on the sting of the field. His low shot squirmed contained in the submit, with Martinez unable to get a robust sufficient hand on it.

With a two-goal lead, Arteta despatched on Riccardo Calafiori for his Gunners debut.

Odegaard had an exquisite probability to extend our lead, however blasted over from shut vary after Rice teed him up.

On the different finish Saliba’s restoration tempo was unimaginable, and he acquired again to slip in and dispossess Jacob Ramsey as he bore down on aim.

The crew’s work-rate didn’t drop for a second, till the referee blew his last whistle, and the away followers celebrated with the gamers on a memorable night within the Midlands.

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Arteta: “I cherished it!”

 

What’s subsequent

 

We’re again at Emirates Stadium subsequent weekend, taking over Brighton & Hove Albion within the Premier League within the early Saturday kick off – the final recreation earlier than the primary worldwide break of the season. Earlier than that although, a few dates on your diary. The Champions League draw takes place on Thursday, and Friday sees the switch window shut.
 

stats and info

• We’ve got gained our first two video games in a top-flight marketing campaign with out conceding for the third time in our historical past, beforehand doing so in 1924/25 and 1971/72.
• Six of Leandro Trossard’s 14 Premier League objectives for us have been as an alternative, the very best share of any participant to attain 10+ objectives for the membership within the competitors (43 per cent).
• We’ve got gained their opening two league video games in three consecutive seasons for the primary time in our historical past.
• Leandro Trossard’s aim was his first contact within the match, and our first shot of any type within the second half.
• Thomas Partey’s strike was his sixth Premier League aim for us, however his first to come back away from dwelling.
• Bukayo Saka has been concerned in 17 objectives in his final 19 Premier League appearances for us (12 objectives, 5 assists).
• Riccardo Calafiori grew to become the 903rd participant to play for the boys’s first crew.