Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal - Premier League RECAP: Thomas Partey doubles the lead after Leandro Trossard breaks the deadlock

Arsenal did indeed get their revenge today.

All the pain of last year's losses to Aston Villa will now be replaced with joy from today.

It wasn't a vintage Gunners display, they had to work hard for it and rely on the brilliance of David Raya.

But a goal with his first touch from Leandro Trossard and a strike from Thomas Partey mean they leave Villa Park with the points.

That's now me done for the day, it's been a pleasure as always to steer you through a massive day of football.

I will catch you all very soon, thanks for joining.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

We had to change the momentum of the game. We had 10 or 12 minutes suffering in the second half and Leandro [Trossard] has the ability to change the game. His end product is unbelievable.

We were surprised by Villa in the way they behaved defensively but then you have to make the game. We created a couple of big chances but [Ollie] Watkins has one here, a big one and the save of David [Raya] changes the game and the whole dynamic.

They are a great side, are really well coached and it is a very difficult place to come and win. The competition is big, we have great players in each position and they are going to have to accept that. We have a huge season in front of us, a long one and you need players to impact. He [Trossard] did that last year when he started and when he was a sub and he has given us a headache for next weekend.

We are really happy with the squad. It's true we had an injury with Gabriel Jesus and we missed him. We are a little bit short and if we can do something then we will do it.

Right, now it's time to have a look at the statistics.

As you can see, it wasn't the most action-packed game, but it certainly had its moments as you know.

Arsenal had more of the ball, Aston Villa had more efforts. Each side displayed different qualities.

I'm just glad it sprung into life in the second half.

Unai Emery, Aston Villa boss, speaking to Sky Sports:

You have to accept Arsenal they are more experienced, more mature. They are strong, the last two years they have been very competitive in the Premier League, contender in top four and even to win the Premier League. Today was a test for us to understand who we are.

We competed, we faced them, we could have won, drawn or lost. I think it's going to give us a lot of information about the team, the squad and players and how we can close this week in the transfer window and finish this month playing Leicester and challenge to get point.

I think the way we played today will be a good way to understand how we can process our style, our competitive way. 90 minutes is long and sometimes we were controlling ball possession and sometimes they were controlling with their ball possession. We try to reduced corners for them, free kicks for them and we did, we only conceded one corner and this is the way we can think we were controlling this match.

We created three very good chances, like them, but our chances were more clear. We competed like we could do, I have to be proud of the players. We have to keep building. Not the result but the way we did [play] this is what we want.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

That is why Arsenal signed David Raya. For all the chatter about modern goalkeepers needing to be playmakers, nothing beats one who can keep the ball out of the net when the opposition look certain to score.

You've read me natter on all night, I think it's time for a brief change.

Mail Sport's Isaan Khan was at Villa Park this evening to bear witness to a monumental Gunners win.

But how did he rate the players on show?

Well, I'm not going to give it away, but this graphic does display four of the ratings.

To find out the rest, click below:

No, not in height, as a player.

I think Morgan Rogers was right to say that he is getting 'better and better' because he is.

With Ollie Watkins faltering, Rogers really stepped up and caused problems for Arsenal.

Yes, he didn't score, but he was Villa's biggest threat all evening.

He will become a star, I know it.

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers speaking to Sky Sports:

Outside both boxes we had the better of it through the majority of the game, I felt we were really good, I felt we we competed. Obviously, we know they are a good team so we had to give up some areas, but we contained them really well.

We watched them, analysed them and tried to come up with a game plan to stop their threats. We had to wait and pounce and capitalise when we could and I think we did that. We caught them out, and surprised them.

That's what football is about, it's chess, it's two top managers trying to combat each other and that's what it was. Unfortunately, we didn't get that end bit.

I'm getting better and better, more comfortable within the team, tying to impress, trying to shine, I would prefer it to be in a winning way. I want to go better, score goals, create and wins game for the team.

On Ollie Watkins:

He's our talisman, we rely on him, we know he'll score them. We're not going to question that. It's one of those things, it happens. We gave a good account of ourselves. It's one of those games we have to dust ourselves down and move on.

Yes, I am going to talk about this man again.

While Ollie Watkins was not deadly in front of goal today, the same can't be said about Leandro Trossard.

Trossard has netted 14 Premier League goals for Arsenal and six of those have been as a substitute.

That's the highest share of any player to score 10 or more goals for the club in the competition, with 43 per cent.

An impact player.

A penny for Ollie Watkins' thoughts right now.

the striker had two monster chances to give Aston Villa the lead, he should have scored both of them.

But he scored neither.

The second one was a fabulous save by David Raya, but he still should have tried to head it away from his direction.

I just think he'd already thought he'd scored.

As for the first, that's as gilt-edged as you can get. How he missed that, I have no idea.

Right, I have heaped praise upon Leandro Trosasard, so now you can see his goal.

It's a deadly finish, isn't it? Not bad for your first touch of the game. A stone-cold strike.

Enjoy, Arsenal fans!

Really, David?

I reckon once David Raya watches his save back he will rethink what he has just said. Surely that has to be up there.

Olli Watkins looked nailed on to score, I was already typing goal, but then suddenly Raya reacted to deny him.

That save changed the game, Arsenal should have been a goal down but they survived.

After that, they killed off Aston Villa.

David Raya, Arsenal goalkeeper, speaking to Sky Sports:

Everyone is a hero because we work together. It's not just me saving the ball. It was a crucial moment in the game where it was 0-0 and they had chances and I was there to save Ollie's [Watkins] header.

I think of what I remember, it's a shot from outside the box. I'm on the floor so I try to get up and I can't reach it. I just see Ollie going in there so I react as quickly as possible I put my hand there and there's no one there to get the ball.

It's just a repetition of things. You do drills and have to save one ball and get up to save another. This time it paid off. This is a reaction one, I don't think it's one of my best saves. I try to help the team as much as possible to win games.

Revenge really will taste sweet for Arsenal.

The last time they faced Aston Villa, they left with their title dreams in tatters and their heads in their hands.

Well, this time they walk away from Villa Park with a spring in their step after a huge win.

It may be early days, but that is the sort of victory that wins you titles.

Leandro Trossard has just proved why he is one of the best wingers in the league.

He may not be the prettiest player to watch, but he does not need to be, he is effective.

I told my colleague the other day that he is my favourite player in the league, and someone overheard and was very confused.

He's my favorite because of his ability to affect games and provide clinical finishes to win them.

That's exactly what he did today. Arsenal were a completely different prospect when he came on.

It took Trossard two minutes to come off the bench and score. Incredible.

William Saliba is right, he is the man.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Strange game, football. Villa played much better here than they did against Arsenal last December. Arsenal were more impressive last December. But Villa came out on top then, and Arsenal now. Even in August that feels a very significant result for Arsenal, who lost twice to Villa last season.

The three points are heading to north London.

Arsenal did not manage to pick up any points from their two fixtures with Aston Villa last season.

However, this time around they survived two massive chances from Ollie Watkins to steal the win in the West Midlands.

A monumental victory for the away side.

One of those minutes has passed and Ross Barkley has just wasted an Aston Villa chance.

Arsenal fans cheer 'wheyyy' as his strike goes high and wide. Not his best-ever effort.

Unlike the first half, there is not loads of stoppage time.

Aston Villa have got just four minutes to find two late goals.

They need a miracle.

Bukayo Saka's work is done and he is being serenaded by the Arsenal fans in the corner.

He is replaced by Reiss Nelson for the final minutes.

William Saliba, that is superb.

Jacob Ramsey is away, he looks set to halve the deficit for the hosts, but then comes Saliba.

The defender steams back to put in an incredible tackle to deflect the shot from Ramsey before David Raya palms it away.

Amidst all the madness of the second goal, Riccardo Calafiori has come onto the pitch.

He replaced Jurrien Timber just a short few minutes ago. sorry for the delay.

The Arsenal fans are singing Emi Martinez's name as a thanks to the fact he couldn't save Thomas Partey's strike.

They used to sing it to make him feel good... they are certainly not doing that now.

There is certainly a spring in Arsenal's step now.

It's nearly three as Martin Odegaard looks set to compile the hosts' misery.

But he blazes over the bar.

What a strike from Thomas Partey!

Surely the Gunners are home and dry now as Partey finishes off a sweeping move.

The ball comes his way on the edge of the area - he bends it toward the bottom corner and Emi Martinez can't keep it out.

Arsenal are in dreamland.

Two more changes for the hosts.

Ross Barkley and Ian Maatsen are both on for Aston Villa, replacing Amadou Onana and Lucas Digne.

Can they claw Villa back into it?

Jhon Duran is not quite having the impact he would have hoped.

Unlike last week, Duran just can't keep the ball and isn't being found in good positions.

He is cutting a lonely figure up top.

Bukayo Saka is having a great time out there now.

The Arsenal man races away on the right and Amadou Onana has to resort to hacking him down.

He gets a yellow for his challenge.

Momentum has switched at the drop of a hat.

Now it's Arsenal who are on top and Bukayo Saka is starting to purr on the right.

How a goal can change a game just like that.

What an impact from Leandro Trossard!

The winger has only been on for a matter of minutes but he rifles Arsenal in front with a fine finish.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard combine on the right before the latter sends the ball in the box, and Trossard does the rest.

The definition of a super sub!

Aston Villa's match-winner from week one is now on.

Jhon Duran enters the action to replace Ollie Watkins, can he repeat his heroics from West Ham?

Jacob Ramsey is also on to replace John McGinn, while Leandro Trossard comes on for Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal's first change.

How have you not scored, Bukayo Saka?

The winger is in and just needs to dink the ball over Emi Martinez after receiving the ball from Martin Odegaard, but he delays his shot.

In the end, Martinez beats the ball away from his toes.

Aston Villa are well on top now, Arsenal seem to be struggling.

David Raya is forced into another stop, this time he denies MorganRogers.

Villa must be thinking what do they need to do to be him?

I would normally wait until after the match to share this video, but you have to watch this.

If you haven't yet seen David Raya's sensational save, here is your chance.

It's out of this world.

Gabriel has been booked for Arsenal amidst all the madness.

Then from a corner, Amadou Onana makes a 30-yard sprint (I'm not joking) to meet the ball and head over.

A crazy few minutes.

I've just watched the save again and I think it's one of the best I've ever seen.

How David Raya gets up so quickly to get a hand to the ball, I will never know.

It's woken up Villa Park too.

WHAT A SENSATIONAL BIT OF GOALKEEPING FROM DAVID RAYA!

I am not quite sure how Raya has managed to save that chance from Ollie Watkins.

He first tips a deflected effort onto the bar before the ball bounces out for Watkins.

The striker has the goal at his mercy, Raya is in a heap on the floor, he just has to score.

But Raya keeps up and pushes the ball away. Incredible.

I think this game has somehow just got slower.

Aston Villa are now the side that are just comfortable passing the ball about.

This type of play has caused Villa Park to go as flat as a pancake.

The pace of this game has not sped up yet.

Arsenal just played the ball about for two-and-a-half minutes before the ball is clipped over the top and lost.

That's a couple of minutes I will never get back...

Right, we are ready to go again!

Thomas Partey gets the action back underway to what feels like a half-empty Villa Park.

Everyone is obviously still enjoying their pies.

Morgan Rogers was the shining light for Aston Villa in the first half.

Every attack seemed to go through the youngster, he had the Arsenal midfield on strings.

You just feel like if a goal comes, he will be involved in some way or another.

Villa really do have a star on their hands.

Could we be seeing a rare draw between Arsenal and Aston Villa?

These two sides have not played out a draw in 17 matches, there is normally a winner.

Does that mean we will see goals after the break, or is that 17-match run about to end?

Lee Hendrie, former Aston Villa midfielder, on Sky Sports:

He should score, it's an absolute golden opportunity. He gets it all wrong.

Aston Villa fans, you might want to look away.

The fact of the matter is, Villa should be 1-0 up at half-time, but they aren't.

You would bet your bottom dollar on Ollie Watkins burying these chances earlier, but not today.

Will he rue this miss later?

Honours even at the break.

It's not been the best of matches, that's for certain, but we could have seen some goals.

The best chance fell to Ollie Watkins, and I am still unsure how he didn't score.

Arsenal have tried a few things, but nothing seems to be coming off for them.

Let's hope they step it up after the interval.

Mikel Arteta is apoplectic on the touchline. He's not a happy bunny.

Michael Oliver goes over to give him a warning and tell him to calm down.

I'm guessing it stems form the fact his side aren't playing their best.

Morgan Rogers is my player of the match so far.

He gets the ball on the half turn, beats Thomas Partyey, and is then hacked down by Declan Rice.

Rice is then shown a yellow card.

I'm not surprised that there is a lot of time added on.

There will be six minutes of stoppage time due to all the injuries and even the brief scrap we saw.

Aston Villa are growing in confidence now, and the chances are starting to come.

Leon Bailey tries an audacious chip to beat David Raya, and for a moment the angle suggests it might work, but Raya then backpedals enough to collect.

He had me for a second, that's for sure.

Brilliant stuff from Morgan Rogers.

The youngster dances through the Arsenal defence and all the way into the box before trying to square the ball.

His pass causes all sorts of problems but after a fumble, David Raya collects.

That is Arsenal at their very best.

The Gunners spend a couple of minutes trying to pry open Villa before Declan Rice feeds a lovely ball to Gabriel Martinelli on the left.

The winger fires a ball low into the area for Kai Havertz to attack but the forward gets his finish all wrong.

That's a big chance gone begging.

Handbags alert!

I told you this fixture was feisty and now they are all going at it.

It stems from John McGinn smashing the ball straight at William Saliba after taking the ball from Ollie Watkins.

Ben White then smashes back at McGinn and it all goes off.

Now it's Aston Villa's turn to stop the counter.

Declan Rice sends Kai Havertz away in acres of space, and he looks for Bukayo Saka in the middle.

Surely he will find him to slot home?

Nope, Leon Bailey does well to intercept the ball and clear.

That's superb defending from William Saliba.

He races out to intercept a threatening Aston Villa counter-attack before setting Arsenal on their way.

The ball ends up at the feet of Thomas Partey outside the area, but he fires over.

What is going on in the West Midlands?

Now it's Bukayo Saka's turn to do something strange as he loses his balance while driving into the area.

I wonder what's in the water at Villa Park.

What a miss from Ollie Watkins!

I can't believe my eyes, how has Watkins missed that?

Gabriel falls asleep and gets the ball pinched from him, before Morgan Rogers then puts it on a plate for the striker in acres of space.

But he rolls the ball wide...

Leon Bailey has just put his thumbs up to signify he is OK, and he is back on for the moment.

That's massive for Unai Emery, he would have been really worried for just a moment.

Oh dear, now Leon Bailey is down.

The singer pulls up and it looks like he has also pulled a hamstring, or some sort of muscle anyway.

The problems are piling up for Unai Emery...

Matty Cash cannot continue.

The full-back heads off the pitch and after the Bukayo Saka chance, Kosta Nedeljkovic replaces him.

Can this young buck cope with Gabriel Martinelli?

Big save from Emi Martrinez!

Bukato Saka does what he does best and cuts inside before bending an effort toward the corner.

Just as you think the ball is creeping in, Martinez tips it around the post at full stretch.

A massive stop!

Gabriel Martinelli does not look very confident today...

He struggles to get past Matty Cash and then clips in a poor cross that drifts over everybody.

Cash then goes down holding his hamstring, which doesn't look great for the Villa man.

Somehow, both players came out of that part of play badly.

Villa Park screams 'wheyyy' at Declan Rice as he sends a strike straight at Emi Martinez.

That's not the full story, though. gabriel ¬martinelli was away on the counter but halted his run for some reason.

If he had turned on the afterburners, he may have been away.

Amadou Onana is up and OK.

He doesn't look particularly happy, though, even when Jurrien Timber apologises.

I presume that won't be the last big challenge thrown in.

This is a feisty fixture and the claws are already out.

Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is down inside the first three minutes of his home debut.

He took an accidental arm to the face from Jurrien Timber. Nothing in it.

It really is deafening inside Villa Park!

I can barely hear myself think and I'm not even in the ground, that's how loud it is.

It briefly quietens before a minute's applause in respect of former members of the Aston Villa family being lost.

Morgan Rogers then takes to the centre circle, and five minutes late we are now underway.

Who will come out on top?

The technical issues must be resolved then...

The two teams are now out on the turf, albeit four minutes later than they should be.

They step out to flames firing into the air and the sun shining on Villa Park. It's a perfect day for it.

I've got a real good feeling about this one.

Oh dear...

It is being reported that there is a communication problem that may delay kick-off.

The communication between the referee and VAR has been down, but the teams are now in the tunnel.

We will keep you updated.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Ground starting to fill up now after those ticketing issues outside. No delays to kick-off and should be a cracking atmosphere.

It seems those fans are indeed now in.

The atmosphere is starting to get louder and the music is certainly helping.

I am bobbing along in my desk chair to the dance tunes on display, it's getting me pumped up.

I wonder if it will work for the players.

Digital tickets, eh?

Hundreds, even thousands, of fans are still waiting outside the stadium in massive queues.

The new digital ticket system does not seem to be going very well on its first day.

Let's hope they don't miss the game, it starts in less than 10 minutes.

Ollie Watkins absolutely loves playing the Gunners.

The Aston Villa striker has netted five goals in his last eight games against Arsenal.

One of his finest came at the Emirates in their 2-0 win last season, it was a lovely chip.

He will want to add to that tally tonight.

That sun is still beaming.

Thankfully, since when I moaned in the post about the weather, it's started shining on our capital city.

Some Arsenal players are wearing jumpers in the warm-up, they must be sweltering.

It's hot over in Birmingham.

Kai Havertz had a lot of haters when he first joined Arsenal.

In 2024, the Gunners forward has certainly made a lot of them eat their words.

Since February 17, no player in the Premier League has more goals and assists combined than Kai Havertz, with 10 goals and seven assists.

However, he has never had a goal involvement against Aston Villa...

Will that change today?

Mr. Inevitable is at it again.

If Arsenal are going to win the league this year they will need to focus on themselves.

Manchester City are in safe hands with Erling Haaland up top, so the Gunners can't rely on him faltering.

He has just netted his first hat-trick of the Premier League season in a 4-1 thrashing of newly-promoted Ipswich Town. The first of many.

That's two wins from two for City.

Over to Arsenal.

Arsenal have a near-perfect record in the Premier League in 2024.

They have played 19 matches, winning 17 of them and drawing one other.

So, who was their one loss to?

You guessed it, Aston Villa. The Birmingham-based side are the only blemish on their record.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Far from plain sailing at Villa Park – and the game hasn’t even got underway yet. Reports of queues outside the ground as supporters wait to be allowed in. Villa are using a digital ticketing system this season.

Bukayo Saka has won a lot of games in the red of Arsenal.

In fact, the winger has won 99 of his 171 Premier League games with the Gunners.

A victory today will make him the fourth player to reach 100 wins in the competition before turning 23 years of age.

The only other players to have done that are Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, and Phil Foden.

Not bad company, eh?

He has to get the job done first, though.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Villa chief Chris Heck going big in his programme notes today. ‘Last season’s success was not a one-and-done,’ he writes, before going on to talk about ‘this new ‘golden age’ of Aston Villa. No pressure, lads.

I am a very jealous man, right now.

Sat in London, I am currently looking at grey skies and it's been chucking it down all day.

Then I see these photos where the sun is out in Birmingham and fans are wearing shorts.

England is a funny place...

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, speaking on Friday:

Last year, Newcastle were playing in the Champions League, two years ago they were in the top four, but they didn’t get it last year for different reasons. This objective, we want to avoid some circumstances that could give us the same way like Newcastle or other teams in the past.

This is our challenge, to keep the same structure and idea, being strong to be a contender ourselves to be in the top seven, top five or top four. Because our objective of course is to be in Europe regularly, consistently, and if we are in the Champions League we can achieve our dreams again.

This is the objective, to try to reduce the gap with some teams – one of those teams is Arsenal because they have been very, very competitive. They are doing very good work, they are improving, they are close to winning the Premier League. They are contenders to win the league with Manchester City and Liverpool. Our capacity to reduce the gap with them is the challenge.

Unai Emery is back up against his old side once again.

It's pretty common knowledge that Emery's reign at the Gunners did not go as planned and he was pushed out the door.

Mikel Arteta then came in and the rest is history.

But Emery didn't show his true potential in north London, he is a truly brilliant manager.

The Spaniard has proved that since and Arsenal have been on the end of that a few times already while he has been at Aston Villa.

He loves beating the Gunners and is not shy of hiding it.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Quite the welcome for the Villa team coach arriving just now. There’s plenty of optimism here at the moment, after Emi Martinez’s new deal in the week, the opening day win at West Ham – and that league double over Arsenal last season.

Arsenal are usually pretty good on the road, aren't they?

Well, if you don't think they are, I am about to prove you wrong.

The Gunners have won eight of their nine Premier League away games so far in 2024, drawing the other.

In those fixtures they have netted 28 goals, conceding three, and keeping seven clean sheets.

That was last season, though. Can they keep up that run?

It's a massive day for Jurrien Timber at the back.

The Dutchman had a nightmare campaign last season, he missed the majority of it due to injury.

Timber has not started a Premier League match since the opening day of the 2023-24 season.

Well, now he's back in from the start again.

Unai Emery is sticking to his guns.

Aston Villa opened the season with a win away at West Ham and the team that started that match get the nod today.

Ollie Watkins seemed a bit rusty last week, but despite Jhon Duran's winner at the London Stadium, he keeps his spot.

Happy, Villa fans?

Just the one change for Arsenal then.

And it's not Riccardo Calafiori coming in, he must just be a smiley man, it's Jurrien Timber who starts at left-back.

Other than that, it's not surprising that Mikel Arteta has decided to stick with the side that got the job done last week.

A strong side.

We are just minutes away from knowing the teams.

Arsenal have arrived at Villa Park and a certain Riccardo Calafiori looks a very happy man.

Is this a sign? Will he be starting today?

We will let you know in just a few moments...

Arsenal will simply not want to slip up today.

Yes, it's only the second game of the season, but every point counts when you are in a title race.

We don't definitely know that Arsenal are this year, but let's be honest, we expect them to battle Manchester City for England's top prize.

They started the season with a comfortable win over Wolves last week. It's fair to say they looked in fine fettle.

But this week poses a different challenge. As they know best, Aston Villa are no pushover.

Securing three points today would be huge for Mikel Arteta.

If last season was a pantomime, the second match between Arsenal and Aston Villa would have had fans screaming 'He's behind you!'.

It felt very much like that when Villa destroyed the Gunners' title hopes with a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

I covered the match, and in the first half, it just looked like it would be a formality for Arsenal. It ended up being far from that.

Unai Emery's Villa seem to have Arsenal's number, they didn't even concede to them last campaign.

Can they cause them more pain today?

What a way to finish an already cracking Saturday.

Two of the best teams doing battle this early on in the season is always a treat. I simply can't wait.

Arsenal swept aside so many teams in their battle with Manchester City for glory last season, but not Aston Villa.

The Villans did the double over the Gunners, derailing their title charge. Arsenal will not have forgotten that.

They will be looking for revenge today, that's for sure. But after both getting off to winning starts last weekend, it's a tough battle to call.

It's going to be a blast, so let's get this show on the road.