EPL: Saka’s Strike Earns Arsenal Hard-Fought Win At Aston Villa

Bukayo Saka’s second-half goal was the difference as Arsenal overcame a stubborn Aston Villa side in a close encounter at Villa Park.

Saka fired home from close range on 59 minutes after neat interplay between Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori broke through a stubborn Villa backline.

The result means the Premier League champions maintain their winning start to the season while Villa remain searching for their first victory of the campaign.

This fixture was one of the few matches that Arsenal lost in winning the Premier League title last season but Saka’s goal decided what was a tight game despite an improved showing from Unai Emery’s much-changed Aston Villa line-up.

The reigning Europa League champions were 4-0 down after 31 minutes at Brighton on the opening weekend but they showed far more resilience against the Gunners from the outset, with Emiliano Buendia crashing the ball against the crossbar on 12 minutes.

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Mikel Arteta’s men, unchanged from the win over Coventry, were their usual probing selves, asking searching questions from set pieces and controlling possession for long periods. But Gabriel’s mistimed header was as close as they came in the first half.

Summer signing Christos Tzolis was substituted at half-time after receiving a yellow card and running the risk of a sending off after that, but the introduction of Eze worked out well with the Gunners ramping up the pressure in the second half with the ever-impressive Saka to the fore.

Sam’s thought he had won a penalty early in the second half but Ian Maatsen’s foul was ruled to be outside the box following a VAR review. It mattered not because he slotted home Calafiori’s cross from close range soon afterwards.

Up next for Arsenal is the London derby with Chelsea, who have also won their two opening Premier League matches – 3-2 win at Fulham and 4-3 win against Brighton and Hove Albion.