Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction

Follow all the action from Emirates Stadium

(Action Images via Reuters)

Arsenal maintain their perfect start after beating Aston Villa in a fiery clash at the Emirates Stadium. As the Gunners make it five from five, the question is not how long they can keep this up but how long Steven Gerrard can keep his job.

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has invested a lot of trust and club money into his former Liverpool star’s project, and he is likely to get games after Saturday’s daunting home game against Manchester City, but the wonder is whether they will all be overtaken by events. Or, rather, defeats.

Here, at a buoyant Arsenal stadium, it was as if Villa were almost powerless to stop Mikel Arteta’s effervescent side claiming 2-1 win. There was barely a challenge for Gabriel Martinelli’s winning goal. Gerrard’s approach, in stark contrast to Arsenal’s run, seems unsustainable.

So, while Villa look to the weekend with trepidation, Arsenal look to it with hope. They have positive momentum, confidence and an edge, all of which form the ideal mentality to be going to Manchester United in search of the sort of victory that would really serve as a statement.

Relive the action from Arsenal’s victory over Aston Villa:

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 ASTON VILLA

31 August 2022 21:25

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Digne fouls Tomiyasu in his bid to regain possession. Arsenal can take down the clock here.

31 August 2022 21:25

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Nketiah weaves his way through the Villa defence and all the way to the edge of the box. He goes for power on his left foot, but lifts his effort over the top.

31 August 2022 21:23

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

31 August 2022 21:23

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

31 August 2022 21:22

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Douglas Luiz threads the ball through to Ings in the inside-left channel, but Gabriel holds his ground to fend off the forward. Ings wants a penalty, but the referee is not interested.

31 August 2022 21:21

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

There will be five minutes of added time.

31 August 2022 21:20

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Martinelli surges through the middle of the Villa defence, but he drags his left-footed strike from the edge of the box wide of the right post.

31 August 2022 21:18

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Villa are piling men into the box at every opportunity. Ramsdale has not looked overly confident since Douglas Luiz found the net from the corner.

31 August 2022 21:17

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

31 August 2022 21:15