Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Aston Villa suffered a cruel 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in their first home match of the 2024/25 season.

Villa created a host of golden opportunities to open the scoring in what was an enthralling Premier League encounter at Villa Park.

An unmarked Ollie Watkins fired wide from 10 yards in the first half while, after the break, Amadou Onana’s deflected strike hit the crossbar, Watkins saw his stooping header superbly kept out by David Raya on the rebound and then Ezri Konsa volleyed agonisingly wide shortly afterwards.

But the hosts were punished in the 67^th minute as Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard swept past Emi Martínez, who had earlier made an excellent low save to deny Bukayo Saka.

And the Gunners duly doubled their advantage 10 minutes later as Thomas Partey converted from the edge of the penalty area.

It was harsh on a Villa side, for whom a rampaging Morgan Rogers was excellent in the middle of the park, and now travel to Leicester City next weekend before the September international break.

Unai Emery named an unchanged matchday 20, keeping faith with the same starting XI and substitutes who saw off West Ham United on the opening weekend of the season.

That meant a maiden appearance at Villa Park for summer signing Onana, while Martínez, fresh from signing a new long-term contract, lined up between the sticks.

Following a moment’s silence in honour of the Villans who have passed away over the summer, Villa Park was as loud as ever for the first encounter of the season in B6 as they looked to follow up last season’s league double over the Gunners.

The culmination of an evenly-balanced opening 15 minutes saw Martínez called upon to get down low and make a superb fingertip save to push Saka’s strike around a post.

Villa suffered an injury setback as Matty Cash hobbled off to be replaced by Kosta Nedeljković, who became the club’s 1,000^th player at London Stadium last weekend.

Villa then missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half as Leon Bailey robbed Gabriel of possession, Rogers picked up the ball and squared for an unmarked Watkins but he could only fire wide from 10 yards.

Excellent tracking back and a superb interception from Bailey denied the Gunners on the counter-attack, while Rogers’ mazy run and shot drew a save from Raya at the other end as an engaging first half finished all square at the interval.

Villa spurned another gilt-edged chance in the 55^th minute as Onana’s 20-yard effort deflected off Gabriel and rebounded via the crossbar, before on onrushing Watkins saw his diving header somehow palmed away by a recovering Raya.

Following a crucial interception from Nedeljković, Emery introduced Jhon Durán, matchwinner against the Hammers a week ago, and Jacob Ramsey shortly after the hour mark.

And Villa came within inches of opening the scoring yet again as Konsa’s cushioned volley from Lucas Digne’s deep free-kick flew just wide.

Yet it was the Gunners who made the breakthrough in the 68^th minute as Saka’s low cross found sub Trossard and he swept home from 12 yards.

Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley stepped off the bench for the final 14 minutes, but the Villans found themselves two goals behind almost immediately as Partey converted Saka’s cut back from 20 yards.

Martin Odegaard wasted a good chance to add a third for the visitors shortly afterwards as Arsenal went on to claim a ninth win from their 10 Premier League away games so far in 2024.