Arsenal gun down Villa with a late fightback

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang again proved to be Arsenal's saviour as his late free-kick earned the 10-man Gunners a hardfought victory over Aston Villa.

Dean Smith's visitors had twice led at the Emirates Stadium only to fall to a 3-2 defeat as Aubameyang struck with six minutes remaining.

John McGinn had given Villa a surprise lead but, despite Ainsley MaitlandNiles' dismissal late in the first half, club-record signing Nicolas Pepe equalised from the penalty spot.

Villa stunned the home crowd once more as they regained the lead just 89 seconds later, Wesley turning home, only for Callum Chambers to hit his first Arsenal goal since August 2016 and Aubameyang to provide the winning moment to take Unai Emery's side into the Premier League top four.

Villa led when Anwar El Ghazi crossed and McGinn steered the ball home.

Arsenal's afternoon only looked to be heading in one direction when Maitland-Niles was sent off four minutes before half-time for a second bookable offence.

After the break, Matteo Guendouzi was tripped in the box by Bjorn Engels, Pepe scoring from the spot.

But Villa responded immediately, Jack Grealish setting up Wesley at the near post.

Trezeguet shot straight at Leno, while a David Luiz free-kick was tipped over by Tom Heaton at the other end.

Guendouzi's drive hit the base of Heaton's post moments later.

And Emery's side then equalis ed for a second time as Chambers stabbed home from six yards at the second attempt.

The comeback was complete less than three minutes later as Engels fouled Aubameyang on the edge of the box and the Gabon striker, wearing the captain's armband after Granit Xhaka was taken off, fired in his seventh of the season from the resulting free-kick.

Villa pushed on in the closing stages in the search for an equaliser of their own. Bu t Arsenal's depleted ranks held firm to secure the three points, and leave Villa third bottom of the table.