Arsenal 3 - 1 Aston Villa: Partey for Gunners at the Emirates

Thomas Partey’s first-ever Arsenal goal set the ‘Gunners’ on their way to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side raced into a 2-0 lead before HT after a rampant opening 45 minutes as they made it seven games unbeaten for the first time in nearly two years.

The hosts started at a ferocious pace and created numerous chances, with Bukayo Saka and Nuno Tavares amongst those to miss the target. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then had a goal ruled out after a foul by Alexandre Lacazette in the build-up before Partey hit the woodwork.

Arsenal finally made their pressure count on 23 minutes when Partey deftly nodded home from Emile Smith-Rowe’s corner, and it should have been 2-0 shortly afterwards when Saka fired too close to Emiliano Martínez. 

The lead was finally doubled on the stroke of HT as VAR intervened to award a penalty for a foul on Lacazette. Aubameyang took the spot-kick, and he converted at the second attempt after his initial effort had been superbly saved.

Villa manager Dean Smith changed formation at the break and it nearly paid off immediately as Ollie Watkins was denied by Aaron Ramsdale, but they struggled to live with the hosts, who moved the ball at a scarily quick speed. 

Smith-Rowe, who Villa tried to buy in the summer, was the main protagonist and he netted the third just before the hour mark, rattling a deflected shot home off the post after a rapid counter-attack.

Despite the scoreline, the visitors rallied and Jacob Ramsey pulled one back with a screamer that arrowed into the top corner from 18-yards out. 

Tyrone Mings then flashed a shot past the far post and Ramsey hooked a further effort off target in a nervy final ten minutes as Villa ultimately lost a third league game running for the first time since July 2020.