‘We showed we can win at any place’ Mikel Arteta reaction as Trossard and Partey goals secure Arsenal win at Aston Villa | OneFootball

Happy Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised goalkeeper David Raya and super sub Leandro Trossard for helping his side score a crucial revenge away win at Aston Villa.

Arsenal lost all six points to their former coach Unai Emery and Villa last season, in two hotly contested matches.

And it might have been a third defeat running for Arteta but for a brilliant second half save by Raya from an Ollie Watkins header.

Trossard came on for a misfiring Gabriel Martinelli soon after and scored with his first touch on 67 minutes. Thomas Partey drilled in a decisive second ten minutes later.

Arteta said afterwards: “We found a way to win, especially because the team played with a lot of personality and understood the game better and better as it was going, apart from those 10-12 minutes in the second half.

“When we had to rely on certain individuals we did, like the situation of David – that is an unbelievable save.

“When we made the changes, the impact they had was tremendous. When the team starts to be equipped that way and starts to be able to navigate through different contexts in the match, it becomes a team that can win in every place. Today we showed that.

“Last year we generated more, obviously because of the context of the game when they scored first. Today they did something a little different to what we expected, especially in the first phase of our build up in the way they behave.

“This is what we have to do against any formation, any opponent, we are finding ways to be a threat from many areas. That’s a big compliment for the team.

Arteta was the urged to analyse the excellent impact of Trossard, who has a unique ability to come on to have major impacts on matches.

He added:  “When you don’t get picked there are certain ways to react. Leo is upset but he’s upset to show on the pitch how good he is, not upset then come in and because I wasn’t playing then it is like this. That’s a huge quality.

“When you put him in the starting XI he does exactly the same thing. That’s a big message and a big example for the rest of the team and myself.

“For what we expected today I decided to play Gabi and he had a good performance. When we had to change the game because it was taking a different route, he came on and made the difference. Big credit to him.”

Reacting to Raya’s second wonder save of the tw-match old season, he smiled: “I thought it was a goal. I saw the reaction of the defensive line which was none because the ball goes on the crossbar and we’re all watching the ball and I went ‘no, please.’ Then I see the striker in that position and normally it’s a goal. David’s reaction is unbelievable.”