EPL: Saka attack gives Arsenal hard-fought win at Aston Villa

Bukayo Saka’s second-half goal was the difference as Arsenal overcame a stubborn Aston Villa in a close encounter at Villa Park.

Saka fired home from close range in the 59th minute after a clever interplay between Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori broke down Villa’s stubborn defence.

The result means the Premier League champions maintain their winning start to the season, while Villa continue to search for their first win of the campaign.

This match was one of the few games Arsenal lost to win the Premier League title last season, but Saka’s goal decided what was a close match despite a better performance from Unai Emery’s much-changed Aston Villa lineup.

The reigning Europa League champions trailed 4-0 after 31 minutes at Brighton on the opening weekend, but showed much more resistance against the Gunners from the start, with Emiliano Buendía crashing the ball against the crossbar in the 12th minute.

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Mikel Arteta’s men, unchanged since the win over Coventry, were their usual self, asking minute questions on set pieces and controlling possession for long periods. But Gabriel’s ill-timed header was the closest they came in the first half.

Summer signing Christos Tzolis was substituted at half-time after picking up a yellow card and risking being sent off after that, but the introduction of Eze worked well and the Gunners piled on the pressure in the second half with the always impressive Saka up front.

Sam thought he had won a penalty early in the second half, but Ian Maatsen’s foul was ruled outside the area following a VAR review. It didn’t matter because soon after he scored a Calafiori cross from close range.

Next up for Arsenal is the London derby against Chelsea, who also won their first two Premier League games: 3-2 win at Fulham and 4-3 win against Brighton and Hove Albion.