Bukayo Saka struck in the second half as Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday.
Saka’s close-range finish in the 59th minute secured Arsenal’s second consecutive win and sent an early warning to their title rivals.
Mikel Arteta’s side have now collected maximum points from their opening two league matches without conceding a goal, underlining their ambition to successfully defend the Premier League crown.
The victory also provided a fitting celebration for Arteta, who marked his 250th league game in charge of Arsenal.
Arteta kept faith with the same starting XI that defeated Coventry 3-0 in the opening game of the season, and Saka once again proved decisive after scoring in that victory.
Arsenal were made to work hard for the points, however, with Villa creating several dangerous moments during a lively opening period.
Emiliano Buendia rattled the crossbar with a fierce effort, while Pau Torres produced an excellent block to deny Christos Tzolis after the Arsenal winger had been picked out by Saka.
Arsenal also had a penalty appeal rejected after Riccardo Calafiori went down under a challenge from Torres late in the first half.
Arteta responded at the interval by replacing Tzolis with Eberechi Eze, and the change immediately gave Arsenal greater attacking threat.
Victor Lindelof made a crucial intervention to prevent Kai Havertz from converting Declan Rice’s pass, while Martin Odegaard later sent a free-kick narrowly wide.
Arsenal thought they had earned a penalty when Ian Maatsen appeared to barge Saka inside the area, but VAR overturned the decision after determining that the foul had occurred just outside the box.
The Gunners eventually found the breakthrough in the 59th minute.
