Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, latest updates and fan reaction | OneFootball

Gunners continue perfect start to title defence

Bukayo Saka scored the vital winner as Arsenal ground out a narrow 1-0 defeat of Aston Villa despite producing a markedly unconvincing performance. The champions were a shadow of the side which picked apart Coventry last time out despite Mikel Arteta making no changes to his lineup, and they went frustrated for long stretches before Saka finally tapped home in the second half.

The performance from Arsenal was reminiscent of so many of those that saw them through to the title last season, in that they dug in and got the job done with few frills. It was the substitutes who really decided it, with Eberechi Eze’s impetus and Bruno Guimaraes’ enforcing presence in midfield having a grand effect in a match where their team-mates struggled to fight through a stubborn defence.

Villa, meanwhile, were much improved as Nicolas Jackson and Zion Suzuki made debuts, and were unlucky not to score one of their several chances. Catch up with the action from Villa Park as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri.