Match ends, Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Emile Smith Rowe for changing his lifestyle after the 21-year-old midfielder helped the Gunners to a thoroughly deserved victory over Aston Villa as they moved into the top half of the Premier League table.
Thomas Partey headed in Smith Rowe's corner for his first goal for the Gunners - having earlier hit the crossbar.
Right at the end of the first half, Arsenal were given a penalty after a long video assistant referee review for a Matt Targett foul on Alexandre Lacazette.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty was saved excellently by former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez, but the Gabon striker put home the rebound from close range.
Villa improved on a thoroughly wretched first half, but Smith Rowe scored Arsenal's third 11 minutes into the second half.
He won the ball in his own half and then finished the move via a deflection and the post.
The visitors got a consolation when Jacob Ramsey curled his first Villa goal into the top corner from 20 yards. They put on good pressure and created a few chances in the closing stages but it was too little, too late.
Villa saw two bids for England Under-21 international Smith Rowe turned down in the summer, with Arteta insisting he was never worried he would leave the Emirates Stadium.
Smith Rowe now has two goals and two assists this season and Arteta has been pleased with the development of the academy graduate.
He said: "When you want to take the game to the next level, when you become a real important player in such a big club, that should be the only priority and every detail is important and relevant.
"You have to make him aware of that, you cannot give percentages away that can make big differences and he has changed that.
"There is no complaining, he is just looking forwards, he is really determined, he has changed the way he is living as well a little bit and some of the habits that he had and he's been superb."
More like it from Arsenal
This did not look like a game between two teams sitting next to each other in the table - but Arsenal were 12th and Villa 13th before kick-off.
Arsenal are capable of good spells - like at the start of Monday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace - and good games - like the 3-1 win over Tottenham.
This was one of the good games, well for 80 minutes.
Aston Villa were the opposite of their 3-2 defeat by Wolves. They collapsed there in the final 10 minutes - but this time that was when they they had most of their chances.
They did not manage a shot in the first half, the first time since May 2018 that has happened to a team playing against Arsenal in the league.
The Gunners should have been out of sight - Partey had hit the woodwork from close range before headed them into the lead.
Aubameyang had a goal disallowed for a debatable Lacazette foul and Martinez made several smart saves.
But Arsenal got the second they deserved in first-half injury time. The crowd thought Craig Pawson was whistling for half-time but he was actually stopping play for a VAR consultation.
Targett was about to clear the ball when Lacazette stepped across him and drew a foul instead. The penalty was given and Aubameyang scored at the second attempt.
Villa had more threat when they brought on winger Leon Bailey for defender Axel Tuanzebe at half-time, but after their first couple of chances, Smith Rowe wrapped it up.
Or so it looked until Ramsey scored the best goal of the game. Ollie Watkins, Ramsey and Bailey all had chances to for Villa but could not set up a tense finale.
Smith 'confused' about penalty
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith told BBC Sport: "First half we got dominated physically. I can take the second half. I don't expect us to get dominated physically though. You can't give teams in the Premier League a head start.
"We knew Arsenal would start quickly but we allowed them to control the first half.
"I am confused about the penalty. We spoke at length [before the season] about the lower-contact frivolous penalties.
"I have seen it once and can't work out if he touches ball first or man. If we are looking at a penalty that long maybe they aren't given."
Player of the match
Smith RoweEmile Smith Rowe
Arsenal
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
8.57
- Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating
8.05
- Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
7.88
- Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
7.78
- Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating
7.70
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
7.63
- Squad number14Player nameAubameyangAverage rating
7.62
- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhĂŁesAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
7.54
- Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
7.52
- Squad number8Player nameĂdegaardAverage rating
6.57
- Squad number15Player nameMaitland-NilesAverage rating
6.27
- Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
6.20
Aston Villa
Avg
- Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating
5.67
- Squad number1Player nameE MartĂnezAverage rating
5.23
- Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
4.87
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
4.01
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
3.98
- Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
3.97
- Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating
3.94
- Squad number21Player nameEl GhaziAverage rating
3.76
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
3.76
- Squad number16Player nameTuanzebeAverage rating
3.73
- Squad number20Player nameIngsAverage rating
3.64
- Squad number3Player nameTargettAverage rating
3.63
- Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
3.60
- Squad number10Player nameBuendĂaAverage rating
3.39
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 18Tomiyasu
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 20Tavares
- 5Partey
- 23Sambi LokongaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 73'minutes
- 7Saka
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forĂdegaardat 68'minutes
- 10Smith Rowe
- 14AubameyangBooked at 66minsSubstituted forMartinelliat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 8Ădegaard
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 16Holding
- 17CĂ©dric Soares
- 19Pépé
- 25Elneny
- 31Kolasinac
- 35Martinelli
Aston Villa
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1E MartĂnez
- 4Konsa
- 16TuanzebeSubstituted forBaileyat 45'minutes
- 5MingsBooked at 27mins
- 2Cash
- 7McGinnBooked at 32mins
- 6Douglas LuizBooked at 84mins
- 3TargettBooked at 61mins
- 10BuendĂaSubstituted forJ Ramseyat 68'minutes
- 20IngsSubstituted forEl Ghaziat 77'minutes
- 11WatkinsBooked at 1mins
Substitutes
- 8Sanson
- 12Steer
- 18Young
- 19Nakamba
- 21El Ghazi
- 30Hause
- 31Bailey
- 35Archer
- 41J Ramsey
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 59,496
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).
Post update
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal).
Post update
John McGinn (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matt Targett.
Post update
Foul by Nuno Tavares (Arsenal).
Post update
Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal).
Post update
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Matthew Cash.
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 1. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Leon Bailey.
Post update
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Targett (Aston Villa).
Post update
Attempt saved. Martin Ădegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Post update
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
Comments
Join the conversation
From being in the bottom 3 to just being separated by 1 point from the top 4... Arteta has finally managed to get things moving in the right direction! Good for him. (From a United fan).
Woeful Villa in that first half, Smith got it wrong tactically, please stop this 3-5-2 nonsense.
That's 3 lost on the trot now.
Arsenal the form side
And the defence looked solid tonight.
Well played Arsenal!
Move on up! Indeed
Arsenal deserved their win, if they take the lead then they show a bit of backbone, if they go behind then too many heads drop.