Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey made Ollie Watkins and Aston Villa pay for their profligacy to earn Arsenal a statement win.
Having lost to Villa twice last season, this was a first serious test for Mikel Arteta’s title hopefuls — and a mix of determination, discipline and a decisive substitution helped them pass it.
Watkins missed gilt-edged chances in each half, the second kept out brilliantly by David Raya, as a shortened pre-season after England duty continues to tell for the striker.
Trossard, having replaced the ineffective Gabriel Martinelli, showed Watkins how to do it when he scored with his first touch in the 67th minute.
It was two, ten minutes later when Partey finished off more good work from Bukayo Saka and Trossard although Emi Martinez should have kept the shot out.
The Athletic’s James McNicholas, Jacob Tanswell and Art de Roche analysed the action.
Does Jesus injury show Arsenal are short in attack?
Arsenal were dealt a blow before kick-off with the news that Gabriel Jesus would be absent due to what the club describe as a minor groin injury. Given Jesus’ chequered fitness record, that will do little to dispel concerns among supporters.
Perhaps this was a timely reminder of Jesus’ frailty. The transfer window is still open for another week, and a look at their bench at Villa Park suggests they could do with adding more depth in attack.
Jesus has another injury (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
The fact Eddie Nketiah was included among the substitutes, despite being close to joining Nottingham Forest, was indicative of a lack of depth. The decision to loan Fabio Vieira back to Porto robs Arsenal of another option.
Arsenal are close to completing a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, who has arrived in England. Their recruitment drive, however, should not end there. In the final few days of the window, Arsenal must do what they can to strengthen their attack.
James McNicholas
Why is Watkins off the pace?
A combination of outstanding goalkeeping and poor finishing means Watkins is yet to get off the mark this season.
Watkins, who had a truncated pre-season due to England commitments and a small injury that meant he did not feature before the Premier League campaign, snatched at a chance in the first half from close range.
Leon Bailey had picked the pockets of Gabriel before Morgan Rogers slid in Watkins, but the England forward shot past the post. Watkins is understandably rusty, having made way just after the hour mark in both games but his movement, or lack of, was troubling Emery, who demanded he started running in behind William Saliba.
Watkins only had Raya to beat with this chance (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Watkins did, however, become more of a presence but made just six passes — the fewest of any outfield starter. Among his final acts, his evening was defined by the diving header saved by Raya. Watkins was sharp to react to Amadou Onana’s deflected effort cannoning off the crossbar, but his header was within the reach of the keeper. With England interim manager Lee Carsley watching on before the international September fixture, Watkins is still getting up to speed.
Jacob Tanswell
Raya ending goalkeeper debate
This week, David Raya was named in the Premier League’s PFA Team of the Season for 2023-24. It’s actually the second successive season that an Arsenal goalkeeper has claimed the honour: the previous year, it was Aaron Ramsdale. That meant that much of Raya’s first season in north London was accompanied by debate over Arteta’s handling of the goalkeeping position.
That debate is now closed. This summer, Raya’s move to Arsenal has been made permanent, while Ramsdale looks set to move on in search of first-team football.
Raya’s first season at Arsenal was characterised by calmness in possession and when claiming crosses, but he was not called upon to make many spectacular saves.
In the first two games of this season, however, he has produced outstanding stops. Last week he kept out a goal bound header from Jurgen Strand Larsen, and at Villa Park he showed extraordinary reflexes to keep out Ollie Watkins’ close-range effort.
WHAT. A. SAVE.
World-class from David Raya! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XJQVTwE7ef
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 24, 2024
James McNicholas
What’s wrong with Martinelli?
It took Trossard two minutes to show why he has been so important to Arsenal since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023. Always alert, the Belgium forward showed an initiative that had been lacking with Martinelli on the pitch to open the scoring for Arsenal.
He started to jog in off the left wing as Arsenal’s attack built on the right flank and was quick enough to adjust his feet mid-stride, guiding the ball across Martinez.
It was a moment Arsenal needed badly, with Aston Villa growing more threatening, and one that came shortly after indecision that was typical of Martinelli on the day. Declan Rice played a quick free-kick in behind the Villa defence for the rapid Brazil forward, but Martinelli was devoid of ideas and lost possession.
The 23-year-old struggled last term and has not carried his impressive pre-season form into his two Premier League starts. Trossard, who played a key role in Arsenal’s second goal, took Martinelli’s starting position at the end of last season and should be in line to start again off the back of this cameo.
Art de Roche
Are Diego Carlos’ days numbered at Villa?
When Matty Cash fell to the floor clutching his hamstring a quarter of an hour into the game, Diego Carlos and Kosta Nedeljkovic were sent to warm up.
Nedelijkovic is 18 and arrived this summer from Red Star Belgrade, having only broken into their first team at the start of last season.
It was both a sign of Emery’s trust in Nedeljkovic and the slightly bemusing feeling towards Carlos that the former was chosen to replace Cash, slotting in at right-back. At that stage, Villa were struggling to get out of their half, with their average positions showing only Leon Bailey in Arsenal’s half and Emiliano Martinez forced into a sharp save from Bukayo Saka.
Pertinently, Diego Carlos received two player of the match awards in Villa’s two victories against the same opposition last season and in games where the 31-year-old arguably had his best performances in a Villa shirt, with Ezri Konsa shuffling across to the full-back position.
Nedeljkovic is an archetypal right-back, unlike Diego Carlos, but was tasked with staying disciplined defensively and in one-on-one situations against Gabriel Martinelli.
Nedeljkovic was given a tough task against Martinelli (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Diego Carlos’ future remains uncertain, having been open to moving this summer and with Villa willing to listen to offers and it was indicative of his diminishing stock that he remained on the bench.
Yet, the Serbia youth international showed good intelligence, staying tight to Konsa, staying in line with the rest of the back four and listening intently throughout. Trossard ran off him for the first goal and the wheels came off for Villa thereafter.
Jacob Tanswell
What did Unai Emery say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Aston Villa?
Saturday, August 31: Leicester City (A), Premier League, 3pm BST, 10am ET
What next for Arsenal?
Saturday, August 31: Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Premier League, 12.30pm BST, 7.30am ET
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(Top photo: Trossard ‘celebrates’ his goal. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
