adminArsenal ended a good week by going top of the Premier League courtesy of a win at Aston Villa that leaves Remi Garde’s side further adrift at the bottom. The Gunners, who reached the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek, led through Olivier Giroud’s early penalty. Aaron Ramsey then started and finished a superb counter-attack to reward the away side’s first-half dominance.
Jack Grealish returned to action for Villa, who improved after the break but wasted a number of good chances.
Villa’s defeat, coupled with positive results for some of their rivals, means they are now eight points from safety with only six points from 16 games. In sharp contrast, Arsene Wenger’s side have won 10 league games this season and lead the division, a point ahead of Manchester City, who beat Swansea on Saturday, and Leicester, who face champions Chelsea on Monday night.
Villa have now not won a game since the opening day of the season, when Rudy Gestede’s goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth. Since then, they have set two unwanted club records of 15 league games – and nine home matches – without a win, while also changing their manager, bringing in Garde to try and save their season.
There was little evidence of a positive impact by the former Arsenal midfielder during the first half as the away side’s superior movement and pace was reflected in the scoreline.
Garde will be encouraged by his team’s second-half display, which show-cased far more effort and endeavour.
However, despite some good approach play, particularly through Hutton down the right, they were unable to find a finish to dislodge Arsenal from their comfort zone.
Gestede and Scott Sinclair were the worst offenders, heading wide from close range when they should have done better.
Leandro Bacuna also narrowly failed to find the target with a curling long-range effort and substitute Adama Traore found the side-netting after beating four men down the right.
Aston Villa manager Remi Garde said: “I know there is a big expectation at home but we were playing the best team currently in England. I don’t have any reproach for my players.
“I have the feeling that the best team won but I have regrets. To concede an early goal – we did not want that. You don’t expect that.
“In the second half it was a good reaction. The performance is not the one you expected but I never saw a player wearing the Villa shirt that was not proud to do that.
“I knew the size of the challenge before coming. Now we have games that we have to win against direct opponents. The next few matches will be crucial for us.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “It was a perfect week for us. We spent a lot of energy away in the Champions League on Wednesday but found the resources to win again here today, in another away match.
“In the first half we were in control but in the second half the legs had gone a bit. But we were mature, and maybe a bit lucky on one or two occasions, but overall it is great to come here and to win away again.
“This season is so unpredictable that you just focus on yourself and try to play well in the next game. You know if you are consistent then you have a chance. This is an opportunity for us to find that consistency.” – BBC Sport.
Online Reporter