Saka helps Arsenal squeeze past struggling Aston Villa | OneFootball

LIVE

That's all we have for you tonight. See you next time!

Easy does it.

Putting up more than just goals!

Ugh oh...

FULL-TIME: Villa 0-1 Arsenal

It's one moment for the Gunners to take all three points, but it was still a somewhat shaky performance. 

And now it's McGinn who wants a penalty for his side...

Arsenal want a second penalty called in their favour in the dying moments. But Guimarães' fall sees nothing come of it.

Here's a look at the moment for Konsa in his former backyard.

We have eight minutes of stoppage time here

Villa are still huffing and puffing, and they deserve the credit. But it's almost 90 minutes without a shot on target for Unai Emery's side.

Another sub, this time it's Martin Zubimendi entering the fray.

A reminder, it's now two goals in two games for Bukayo Saka.

More substitutions now. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alejandro Garnacho and, of course, former Villa favourite Ezri Konsa, this time wearing different colours.

Who said he was simply a defender? 😉

Plenty of changes after the lone goal. 

In come Tammy Abraham and Alysson for the hosts. Meanwhile, Bruno Guimarães and Mikel Merino enter for the visitors.

Here's a look at what we're talking about. 

Worth noting that Eze, the one substitute from Arteta so far, helped build up the goal.

GOAL! Villa 0-1 Arsenal

But the Gunners won't care about the past now. The opener arrives minutes after Saka thought he won a penalty. Instead, he now bundles home the ball from point-blank range.

No spot-kick and it's a sigh of relief for the Villa fans. Ødegaard sends the subsequent free-kick wide.

Penalty for Arsenal, but VAR are stepping in to confirm.

Now we have a little bit of drama...

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!

We're back rocking and rolling at Villa Park. Arsenal have brought on Eze. Can he make a difference? It's Tzolis who makes way.

Here are more stats for ya at the break. Crickets.

Should the scoreline hold, it would be the first 0-0 draw of the new season.

HALF-TIME

Nothing to separate the sides, but we're sure Mikel Arteta will have plenty to say at the break. Gunners look second tier here.

Nicolas Jackson with a strong run down the left wing after winning the ball. But his cross into the box is a foot or two away from a team-mate.

Bringing in more numbers for the stat nerds. After 40 minutes, the home side has fewer than 100 passes to Arsenal's over 200.

Lopsided, but you wouldn't know given the scoreline.

Villa have a chance on the break after shutting down Arsenal's Tzolis.

It's three on three, but Buendia can't thread the perfect pass. 

Now it's David Raya's turn to get involved but not much flusters him.

New home, new colours.

We're 25 minutes in here and still waiting for a proper shot on target.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

This game really is a back-and-forth encounter. Kai Havertz, however, will want his effort back. 

He's essentially in front of an open goal on the right and manages to send the ball wide left.

CHANCE!

Emi Buendia had an attempt of his own at the other end now. Only the frame of the goal denied him. 

CHANCE!

That might have been an early opener for the Gunners. Debutant Zion Suzuki comes out of his area to connect with a corner but doesn't connect. The subsequent free header goes over the bar.

KICK OFF!

Here we go at Villa Park. Two of the top four from last season face off.

We're just about ready to get underway here...

Some transfer news is arriving for the Gunners now. 

Ethan Nwaneri is not in tonight's squad after Borussia Dortmund made a proposal for a loan deal, according to the BBC.

Round of applause, please!

And here come the champions...

Villa's side is also in ...

And here's the Arsenal team news with Konsa on the bench ...

It'll be a debut for Arsenal's yellow third kit tonight ....

These two teams couldn't have got off to more differing starts on matchweek one. Arsenal swept aside newly-promoted Coventry while Villa were hammered by Brighton.

Good evening everyone and welcome to the penultimate day of the transfer window and our live blog of Aston Villa v Arsenal. New Gunner Ezri Konsa makes his return to Villa Park, having joined the north London side just last week. Will he be in the starting XI? We'll find out in about 15 minutes or so.