Highlights: Aston Villa (1—0) Arsenal McGinn (7′)

FTFull Time

Aston Villa vs Arsenal. Premier League.

5:30pm, Saturday 9th December 2023.

Villa Park.

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J McGinn (7′)

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Report and free match highlights as Aston Villa win a 15th successive top-flight home match for the first time in their history; John McGinn’s early goal was enough to move Villa to within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool; Arsenal miss chance to go top

Highlights from Aston Villa’s match against Arsenal in the Premier League

John McGinn’s early goal was enough to earn Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Arsenal that moves them to within two points of the Premier League summit.

The Gunners were knocked off the top of the table by Liverpool earlier on Saturday and faced a formidable task if they wanted to regain their place, with Villa winning 14 consecutive home matches in the Premier League since a February defeat against Mikel Arteta’s side.

Villa had never won 15 top-flight home matches in a row but smashed that glass ceiling thanks to McGinn, who struck early during a flying start from the hosts.

How the teams lined up | Match stats

Live Premier League table | Watch free Premier League highlights

Villa were unable to sustain their intensity and had Diego Carlos to thank for two goal-line clearances, while Kai Havertz’s late equaliser was disallowed for handball as Emery’s side clung on to a win that surely preserves their status as Premier League title contenders.

Player ratings

Aston Villa: Martinez (8), Konsa (7), Carlos (8), Torres (7), Digne (6), Bailey (6), Kamara (7), Luiz (7), McGinn (8), Tielemans (6), Watkins (7).

Subs: Diaby (6), Ramsey (6), Dendoncker (5), Cash (6), Moreno (6).

Arsenal: Raya (6), White (6), Saliba (7), Gabriel (6), Zinchenko (7), Odegaard (6), Rice (7), Havertz (6), Saka (7), Jesus (6), Martinelli (6).

Subs: Trossard (6), Nketiah (n/a), Nelson (n/a).

Player of the Match: Diego Carlos

How Villa made it 15 in a row

Anyone reserving judgement on Villa’s title credentials until after they hosted Manchester City and Arsenal this week has surely been converted to the cause.

After outplaying the champions in a 1-0 victory on Wednesday, Villa burst out of the traps against last-season’s runners-up, as if determined to prove they deserve to be taken seriously as potential league winners.

Team news

Aston Villa were unchanged from the win over Manchester City, with Ezri Konsa remaining at right-back and Youri Tielemans keeping his place in midfield.

Arsenal made just one change from the win at Luton, with Oleksandr Zinchenko replacing Jakub Kiwior at left-back.

Arsenal struggled to break out of their own half and were behind after just seven minutes when McGinn swivelled and then swept past David Raya to finish a slick attack.

Premier League fixtures

But Villa’s win over City came 24 hours after Arsenal’s dramatic victory at Luton and the extra rest afforded to the visitors began to pay dividends as they wrestled control of the game.

Arteta, sat in the stands due to a touchline ban, saw Carlos race back to clear Gabriel Martinelli’s deft shot with Emiliano Martinez beaten.

Martin Odegaard then fired straight at the Villa goalkeeper with the goal gaping, before Carlos again hacked clear after Martinez and Ollie Watkins almost conspired to score an own goal.

Odegaard then spurned another chance and, with an Arsenal goal seeming inevitable, Emery turned to his bench to inject some much-needed energy into the encounter – and quickly saw his side enjoy a second wind.

Lucas Digne fired a powerful shot straight at Raya, who then kept out Watkins as Villa looked to secure the points.

But after scoring late to win at Luton, Arsenal looked to have produced another late show to claim a point when Havertz bundled the ball over the line.

However, referee Jarred Gillett immediately signalled for handball against the Germany international – a decision that was confirmed by a lengthy VAR check, with the ball appearing to touch his hand before it crossed the line.

With the seconds ticking down, Arteta didn’t even wait for the final whistle, making a hasty exit from his position in the stands as he faced up to a defeat that leaves his side just a point above Villa.

Analysis: Villa are the real deal

John McGinn celebrates after giving Aston Villa an early lead against Arsenal

John McGinn celebrates after giving Aston Villa an early lead against Arsenal

This week always felt pivotal in deciding whether Villa are contenders or pretenders. After seeing off City and Arsenal, the verdict is in. They’re the real deal.

Defeats in both matches could have left Emery’s side 10 points off the summit. Instead, they became the first Premier League side in 21 years to beat the previous season’s first- and second-placed sides in back-to-back games.

This performance was nothing like Wednesday’s, when they blew away Pep Guardiola’s side. With fatigue clearly playing a role, Villa were forced to rely on Martinez, some well-timed substitutions and their remarkable offside trap.

But in some ways, it was just as impressive. They were able to hold firm against a better-rested Arsenal despite spending much of the game on the back foot, with Carlos in particular a rock in defence.

As 2024 beckons, Villa are just two points off top spot and five clear of City. You don’t have to call them favourites but there’s no doubt that Emery’s side are in the mix for the title.

Opta stats: Emery eclipses Arsenal record

Aston Villa have won their last 15 Premier League home games, only the fifth such run by any side in the competition’s history.

Aston Villa have become the fourth team to play the previous season’s top two in consecutive Premier League matches and win them both, after Liverpool in December 2000, Southampton in May 2001 and Manchester United in December 2002.

Unai Emery has won 26 of his 41 Premier League games in charge of Aston Villa (D6 L9), more than he managed in 51 games in charge of Arsenal in the competition (W25 D13 L13).

Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey has scored or assisted in each of his last seven Premier League home games (4 goals, 4 assists), despite only starting three of those matches.

What’s next?

Aston Villa have secured a top-two spot in Group E of the Europa Conference League and will finish first if they avoid defeat to Zrinjski on Thursday December 14; kick-off 5.45pm.

Villa then head to Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday December 17; kick-off 2pm.