Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal emry’s side two points off top of Premier League after 15th successive home win
Report and free match highlights as Aston Villa win a 15th successive top-flight home match for the first time in their history; john Mc Ginn’s early goal was enough to move villa to within two points of premier league leaders Livepol; Arsenal miss chance to go top.
John Mc Ginn’s early goal was enough to earn Aston villa a 1-10 win over Arsenal that moves them to within two points of the premier league summit.
The Gunners were knocked off the top of the table by liverpool earlier on saturday and faced a formidable task if they wanted to regain their place, with villa winning 14 consecutive home matches in the premier league since a Feburary defeat against Mikel Arteta’s side.
Ila had never won 15 top flight home matches in a row but smashed that glass ceiling thanks to Mc Ginn, who stuck early during a flying a start from the hosts.
Villa were unable to sustain their intensity and had Diego Carlos to thank for two goal-line clearance while kai Havertz’s late equaliser was disallowed for handball as Emery’s side clung on to a win that surely confirms their status as premier League tile contenders.
Player Ratings
Aston Villa: Martinez(8) Konsa(7), Carlos (8), Torres (7), Digne (6), Bailey (6) Kamara (7), Luiz(7), McGinn (8), Tielemans (6), Watkins(7),
Subs: Diaby (6), Ramsey (6), Dendoncker (5), Cash (6), Moreno (6).
Arsenal: Raya (6) White (6) Saliba (7) Gabriel (6) Zinchenko (7) Odegaard (6) Rice (7), Havertz (6) Saka (7) Jesus (6) Martinelli (6).
Subs: Trossard (6), Nketiah (n/a), Nelson (n/a)
Player of the Match: Diego Carlos
How Villa Made it 15 in a row
Anyone reserving judgement on Villa’s title credentials until after they hosted manchester city and Arsenal this week has surely been converted to the cause.
Trending:
Neville: Man Utd must stick with Ten Hag-saccking him would solve nothing
Papers: Barcelona ready to tempt Lol Celso with move back to spain
Hits and misses: Pochettino under scrutiny, Richarlison take his chance
We are missing Something’ -Pochettino calls for Chelsea transfers
Transfer cnetre Live! pep: I wanted Gundongan and Mahrez to stay
Billam-Smity win s sesperate battle with brokden rib-stoppage
Redknapp: Ange has turned spurfs from unwatchable to most watchable
“Clear and obvious’| Arteta’s response to Havertz hancball, Jesus pen claim
pep hits back at title doubters| Unsure on Haaland return
Whittaker scores massive knockout win in Bournemouth
Latest News :
After outplaying the champions in a 1-10 victory on wednesday, villa burst out the traps against last-season’s runners-up as if determined to prove they deserve to be taken seriously as potential league winners.
Arsenal struggled to Break out of their own half and were behind after just seven minutes when Mc Ginn swivelled and then swept past David Raya to finish a slick attack.
But villa’s win over city came 24 hours after Arsenal’s dramatic victory at Luton and the extra rest afforded to the visitors began to pay dividends as they wrestled control of the game.
Arteta, sat in the stand due to a touchlin ban, saw carlos race back to clear Gabriel Martinelli’s deft shot with Emiliano Martinez beaten.
Martin Odegaard then fired straight at the Villa goalkeeper with the goal gaping, before carlos again hacked clear after Martinez and Ollie Watkins almost conspired to score an own goal.
Odegaard then spurned another chance and Arsenal were further frustrated when Dougla Luiz’s challenge on Gabriel Jesus in the area went unpunished.
With Arsenal goal seeming inevitable, Emery turned to his bench to inject some much needed energy into the encounter and quickly saw his side enjoy a second wind.
Lucas Digne fired a powerful shots straight at Raya, who then kept out Watkins as Villa looked to secure the points.
But after scoring in stoppage time to win at Luton, Arsenal looked to have produced another late show to claim a point when Havertz bundled the ball over the line.
However, Referee Jarred Gillett immediately signalled for handball against the Germay international a decision that was confirmed by a lengthy Var check, with the ball appearing to touch his hand before it crossed the line.
With the seconds ticking down, Arteta didn’t even wait for the final whistel, making a hasty exit from his position in the stands as he faced up to a defeat that leaves his side just a point above villa.
Aston Villa 1- 0 Arsenal
Emery: I won’t be able to repeat this
Emery insisted winning 15 matches in row at villa park is such as spectacular achievement that he won’t be able to repeat it in his carreer.
Speaking to sky sports he said: “I’ve Never achieved this adn i won’t again in my future as a coach. It’s amazing brilliant.
” This week was the most difficult week, having man city and Arsenal here, but after it we have to try to understand we are competing well. The next challenge will be sheffield united and another tough match
It is brilliant here at villa park with our supporters and how they are supporting us.
However, Emery refused to entertain the idea of villa being title contenders, saying. I will speak again when we are in game, 30,32 and if we are in the same posititon as now then may be i can speak about it.
At the beginning we are not a contender, it is only game 16. we are in the top four and we have to try to keep it. It is difficult.
Opta Stats: Emery eclipses Arsenal record
Aston villa have waon their last 15 premier league home games, only the fifth such ren by any side in the competiton’s history.
Aston villa have become the fourth team to play the previous season’s top two in consecutive premier leaguer matches and win them both afer Liverpool in December 2000, southamptoon in may 2001 and Manchester united in December 2002.
Unai Emery has won 26 of his 41 premier league games in charge of Aston villa (D6 L9) mor than he managed in 51 games in charge of Arsenal in the competition (W25 D13 L13).
Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey has scored or assisted in each of his last seven premier League home games (4 goals, 4 assists) despite only starting three of those matches.
What to Do Next?
Aston villa have secured a top two spot in Group of the Europa Conference League and will finish first if they avoid adefeat to Zrinjski on Thrusday December 14: kick off 5.45 pm.
Villa the head to Brentford in premier League on sunday December 17; kick off 2pm
Arsenal have already qualified from Group B in champions league and finish on Tuesday December 12 with a trip to psv,who are also through; kick off 5.45pm.
The Gunners return to league action on sunday December 17 at home to Brighton; kick off 2pm
