Euro target drives Arsenal to victory
ARSENAL’S celebrations at the final whistle showed the importance of these three points to their Champions League aspirations.
A fifth consecutive away win was thoroughly deserved but they still had to endure late drama in testing windy conditions.
Philippe Coutinho’s curling free-kick represented Villa’s first shot on target with the last kick of the game.
Stand-in Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno superbly tipped away and was the cue for Andrew Madley to blow the final whistle allowing beaming Mikel Arteta and his players to parade in delight in front of the noisy travelling fans.
‘It means everything to make the supporters happy. We played two years without crowds, they have big emotions towards the club and give us belief and energy,’ he said.
‘The most important thing is unity within the club. It was a big win after the defeat by Liverpool in midweek. We wanted to play well and get three points to keep the momentum going.’
Arteta had been criticised in midweek for complaining about fixture congestion, but Arsenal didn’t show their soft centre of the past.
Bukayo Saka struck his 10th goal of the season through a forest of legs and from then on the spirit was spot-on.
When Saka was left with a bloodied ankle from a Tyrone Mings challenge, his team-mates surrounded the referee in outrage. All for one and one for all.
When Villa belatedly pushed hard for the equaliser with the breeze behind their backs, Arsenal centrehalves Ben White and Gabriel headed everything that was launched into the box.
The Gunners now have a fourpoint cushion over fifth-placed Manchester United and will fancy their chances of returning to Europe’s premier club competition. It’s a long way from the start of the season when they lost their first three games.
Even so, they were fortunate Villa were so passive. Steven Gerrard accused his players of showing the Londoners too much respect and they didn’t lay a glove on their visitors until late on. It was a surprise given Aaron Ramsdale’s hip injury meant a first league outing since August for Leno.
‘We set up to be aggressive but it’s hard to execute a game-plan if not everyone believes in what you are doing,’ said Gerrard.
‘We didn’t deserve anything with our first-half performance. We could have snatched a goal at the end but we didn’t start on the front foot.’
Despite Arsenal missing Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli (illness), Villa didn’t take advantage with Ollie Watkins used as their lone striker.
Martin Odegaard was heavily involved early on making chances for Emile Rowe-Smith, who blazed over, and Alexandre Lacazette, whose low shot was saved by Emiliano Martinez. The Villa goalkeeper also had to be alert to tip away Saka’s shot to the near post.
Ironically, the hosts’ first moment of danger, Cedric’s great tackle to thwart Watkins, served as a wake-up call for the visitors, who made their overall superiority count to score after 30 minutes.
Cedric’s cross from the right bounced around the penalty area like a pinball before settling at Saka’s feet on the edge of the box. His low finish didn’t need power as it bobbled past a number of bodies with Martinez seeing the ball too late to react.
Saka’s afternoon became more painful soon afterwards when he was caught on the ankle by Mings, who did win the ball first but also caught his England colleague and was booked.
The strong reaction by Saka’s team-mates showed how protective they are becoming with the winger targeted on a weekly basis. But on this occasion Mings had nothing to reproach himself for.
Gerrard at least got his side to show some attacking intent in the second half. Watkins ran tirelessly and struck the post via a Smith-Rowe deflection.
Ashley Young delivered a couple of teasing crosses from full-back and three new forwards, Bertrand Traore, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings were sent on to try to rescue a point. Ings had a couple of halfchances but clear opportunities remained at a premium until Coutinho’s last-gasp effort.
Arteta has the bit between his teeth now. ‘The tradition and history here at this club is to win,’ he said. In that context, fourth is a bare minimum.