Arteta endorses vibrant Arsenal character after victory against struggling Villa

Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 1

Mikel Arteta saluted table-topping Arsenal’s character after three points were claimed against struggling Aston Villa at the Emirates.

The 2-1 score line may have represented the Gunners’ fifth straight Premier League win, but the slim margin did not do justice to the vibrancy and control they exerted across another triumphant night in north London. This is now Arsenal’s best start to a campaign since 2004.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in 31 minutes and 77 minutes respectively, sufficed to ensure a two-point lead over Manchester City, despite an unlikely Villa leveller from a corner by Douglas Luiz.

“We are winning football matches that we deserve to win,” said Arsenal manager Arteta. “You could see in the second half we gave Aston Villa some half chances, but earlier I was very pleased with the way we played.

“The character we showed as a team and you could see how we react in the next action, the next phase, it is amazing.

“Going through both difficulties and positive experiences give you that belief. The crowd believes and that connection happens.”

Despite the superb start to the season, Arteta remains resolute in terms of demands to be set, especially in these such encounters.

Improvement

He added: “We are trying to improve the team and players. We need to keep developing. We had some big chances that we didn’t put away, but the goal by Gabi (Martinelli) took difficult technique. There is always room for improvement.”

Arteta also noted that with an injury to midfielder Thomas Partey Arsenal need to try and cover eventualities, yet the Gunners demonstrated they are well equipped throughout the squad.

The intensity Arsenal displayed from the start was brimming and all-powerful and Villa required every ounce of resourcefulness to thwart the hosts.

Jesus – a major hit since arriving from Manchester City and a man on a mission in north London – drew a terrific save from close range from Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.

The chances came pouring down towards the Villa goal and a miss from a few yards out by Bukayo Saka from a whipped Kieran Tierney cross perplexed the England player as much as the raucous fans inside the Emirates. Martinez also made a world class save to deny Martinelli on the stroke of half time. Impressive elements of the Arteta-constructed unit which has taken flight so far on league business.

The Gunners’ patience was to be rewarded. Jesus sprung to drive in the rebound from an unfortunate spillage by Martinez who failed to hold an angled shot by Granit Xhaka. In reality, considering the energy levels infused by Arsenal it was only surprising it took so long. Villa, on the other hand, barely had time to stabilise or create opportunities for themselves.

Steven Gerrard’s side were overwhelmed by the technique and searing play by the hosts, and Villa could count themselves fortunate to escape the capital, losing by just a single goal. The anonymity of their captain, John McGinn, typified a long night for a team slumped second from bottom of the table and still with only a single win and four defeats from five games.

Warning

To their credit, Villa improved in the second half, and Leon Bailey fired over the bar on the counter. The warning shot across the bows came to fruition when Luiz scored from a corner, in 74 minutes amid some controversy. Within a forest of players, there was debate over Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale being impeded, but the VAR check permitted the equaliser to stand.

The shock fired up the Gunners again – and just three minutes later what proved to be the winner arrived on cue for Martinelli. Unmarked, the Brazilian produced a calm finish at the far post from a Saka cross from the left.

It was, meanwhile, a particularly disappointing night for Gerrard.

“We worked hard to stay with Arsenal and had detailed defending but we had one moment and we were punished,” admitted the Villa boss. “I asked for an improvement at half time in terms of possession and we looked more dangerous. Douglas produced a moment of magic before we shot ourselves in the foot, with someone (Martinelli) having acres of space when he shouldn’t have.

“We caused them problems in the second half but our problem was defensively. It so frustrating that the messages don’t seem to be going in."

In the final analysis, Arsenal may have lacked a degree of sustainability in terms of zest at points in the second half, but this was a comprehensive display, even if the final statistics failed to reflect an evening of steel and conviction. The victorious run continues for the buoyant Gunners.

Gunners: Ramsdale, Tierney., White (Tomiyasu 64), Gabriel, Saka (Holding 87), Odegaard (Smith Rowe 81), Jesus (Nketiah 87), Martinelli, Saliba, Lokonga, Xhaka