
We learnt three things from the thrilling encounter as Arsenal claimed a 4-2 victory against Aston Villa and regained the top spot on the Premier League table. Two stoppage-time goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Jorginho, a deflected shot which was registered as an own goal by Emiliano Martinez, propelled the Gunners to a late win.
The North London side stole the limelight with a remarkable late triumph, despite the game having some outstanding goals. Nevertheless, Martinez’s own goal may end up being the most unforgettable moment, especially if Arsenal ultimately become Premier League Champions.

Aston Villa took an early lead with Ollie Watkins’ goal, but Bukayo Saka’s impressive strike brought Arsenal level. Philippe Coutinho then scored to put the hosts ahead once again, but the Gunners equalised for the second time, thanks to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s goal. Ultimately, Arsenal clinched the crucial three points against Aston villa during stoppage time.
1. Arsenal Showed Resilience
Arsenal’s status as a Premier League title contender was called into question after a run of poor results saw them earn just one point out of a possible nine, allowing Manchester City to surpass them at the top of the points table. Their resilience was put to the test when they faced the Villans only a few days after a 3-1 loss to City.
Bukayo Saka's stats against Aston Villa in the first half:
Touches: 43
Accurate passes: 8/18 (44%)
Accurate long balls: 1
Ground duels won: 7
Possession lost: 21
Shots on target: 1
Successful dribble attempts: 2
Tackles: 4
Yellow card: 1
Goals: 1#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/MLq5fZKiDp— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) February 18, 2023
Saka was amongst the resilient Arsenal players who ended the first half on a high note by scoring a goal. Despite being subjected to multiple fouls by the opposing team, the English winger remained the driving force for the visitors throughout the match, and he deserved to be on the winning team. This season, Saka has been fouled 40 times, the eighth-highest figure in the Premier League.
2. Emiliano Martinez Had A Game To Forget
Martinez has expressed his dissatisfaction with Arsenal, claiming that they did not value him enough and believe in his ability to become their top goalkeeper. However, he has proven himself on the world stage by helping Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar. Despite his success, the Argentinian shot-stopper’s negative views about the north London sdie have caused tension between him and the club’s fans.

The goalkeeper had an upsetting game, having scored an own goal and was out of position during the end of stoppage time which led to Gabriel Martinelli scoring a fourth goal for the opposing team. He had difficulty playing the ball out of defence on several occasions, and it appears that he is struggling with Unai Emery’s system. All in all, it was a day to forget for the 30-year-old.
3. Arsenal’s Defensive Woes Continue
Although Arsenal’s defensive performance was not consistently strong, as evidenced by Aston Villa’s second goal being a smooth transition from defence to offence with minimal ball pressure, the team persevered and ultimately found a way to secure victory.
The win, however, was not without a stroke of good fortune, as Jorginho’s shot hit the crossbar before bouncing off Martinez’s head and into the net. Nonetheless, this result marks the end of Arsenal’s recent poor form and serves as a warning to City that they remain a legitimate contender for the Premier League title if they can address their defensive issues.
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After securing a significant victory against Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta reported that the Arsenal squad is filled with joy and energy. He praised the team’s resilience and character, but also acknowledged that they made mistakes in the first half that resulted in their opponents scoring two goals.
Arteta further added that the team created multiple opportunities in the second half and required a unique moment, which Jorginho provided, to secure the victory. This triumph marks Arsenal’s first Premier League win after trailing at halftime outside of London since December 2009. Next, Arsenal will travel to face Leicester City.
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