Arsenal did good business in the Premier League on Friday night. Thomas Partey opened the scoring with his first goal for the Gunners, after which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled the margin. Shortly after the break, Emile Smith Rowe also contributed, after which Jacob Ramsey did something in return for the visitors. Anwar El Ghazi started on the bench at Villa and came in for Danny Ings ten minutes before time. Arsenal climbs to ninth place with the victory, Villa is thirteenth.
Bukayo Saka was able to sink through the ground in the fourth minute. Within six meters of the goal of Aston Villa closing post Emiliano Martínez, the youngster got the ball right at his feet, but aimed high over the bar. The home team then had the ball, the visitors held back and succeeded in that for a long time. It was a standard situation that broke the spell. Smith Rowe put a corner ready to the head of Partey, who headed in backwards: 1-0. It marked the first goal for the Ghanaian in the service of the Londoners after 40 games in all competitions.
Soooo, the prettiest of the evening comes from Jacob Ramsey! ?? The midfielder of Aston Villa shoots the 3-1 against Arsenal in a very nice way ?? #ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #ARSAVL pic.twitter.com/xeFCEZTgf0
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 22, 2021
The Villans did not know what to do and watched as the home side continued to advance towards the goal. Arsenal already scored eleven attempts, when Alexandre Lacazette was knocked out in the penalty area by Matt Targett in injury time of the first half. Referee Craig Pawson didn’t see it at first, but got a VAR check the Gunners still what they deserved. Aubameyang took his place behind the ball and shot at Martínez, who only unluckily tapped the ball into the feet of the Gabonese. The striker capitalized on the opportunity in the second instance: 2-0.
Villa coach Smith then considered change necessary and brought Axel Tuanzebe to the side in favor of Leon Bailey. It actually turned out to help: the game image became a lot more balanced compared to the first act. Ollie Watkins and John McGinn created danger for the visitors and Albert Sambi Lokonga for the hosts, until Smith Rowe decided it was time for the decision. The playmaker received the ball from Aubameyang and pushed the ball past Martínez via the post. Villa did not give up and, with El Ghazi fresh in the squad, found the connecting goal via Ramsey, but it turned out to be too late to claim a result.