Arsenal’s recent match against Aston Villa at Villa Park was a thrilling one, capped by a 2-0 victory thanks to second-half goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey. It was a game that showcased Arsenal’s resilience and attacking prowess, continuing Arsenal’s impressive start to the season.
After a tough first half where the score remained 0-0, David Raya made an incredible save to keep us in the game. Just after halftime, Trossard made an immediate impact coming off the bench. His well-placed finish from Bukayo Saka’s cutback put Arsenal ahead. Shortly after, Saka set up Partey, whose powerful shot from 20 yards was too much for Emi Martinez to handle.
This win marks Arsenal’s ninth victory in ten away Premier League games this year, with only one draw and an impressive defensive record—having conceded just twice. Remarkably, Arsenal has never trailed in any of these matches.
Early Excitement and Missed Opportunities
Arsenal started the game with some attacking intent. Jurrien Timber, back in the starting lineup, played his way out of trouble and launched a counter-attack. Gabriel Martinelli sprinted down the left, with Martin Odegaard and Saka supporting him. Although Martinelli’s pass to Saka was slightly off, Saka managed to get a cross in. Declan Rice’s effort was saved by Martinez, and Saka later forced a sharp save with a low shot that hit the crossbar after a corner.
The first 20 minutes were a bit chaotic with several stoppages, and Matty Cash had to be replaced. Arsenal got a scare when Gabriel lost possession near Arsenal’s penalty area, and Leon Bailey worked the ball to Ollie Watkins, who fortunately missed the target.
Arsenal’s next chance came from a quick counter. Kai Havertz broke free, but his low cross was cut out just as Saka was about to pounce. Havertz then had a chance himself but pushed Martinelli’s cross wide.
A Game-Changer and a Solid Finish
The second half was closely contested, but Raya’s reflexes were superb. He made a stunning save to deny Watkins and then kept out a deflected shot from Onana. At the other end, Odegaard set up Saka, who was denied by Martinez as he tried to round the keeper.
The turning point came when Trossard was introduced for Martinelli. Almost immediately, Trossard scored with his first touch, finishing from a Saka cross. Shortly after, Partey extended Arsenal’s lead. Gabriel’s pass found Trossard, who crossed to Saka. Saka, under pressure, managed to pass it back to Partey, whose low shot beat Martinez.
With a 2-0 lead, Arteta brought on Riccardo Calafiori for his Arsenal debut. Odegaard had a chance to increase Arsenal’s lead but blasted over. At the other end, Saliba’s pace was impressive as he prevented Jacob Ramsey from scoring.
The team maintained its work rate until the final whistle, and Arsenal celebrated a memorable win with Arsenal’s away fans.
Looking Ahead
Next up, Arsenal return to Emirates Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in an early Saturday kick-off. The final game before the international break will be this one. Don’t forget to mark yArsenal’s calendars for the Champions League draw on Thursday and the transfer window deadline on Friday.
