Premier League result: Ollie Watkins strikes early as Aston Villa knocks down Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal

Ollie Watkins continued his recent streak of success when Aston Villa bolstered their European hopes with a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Villa Park.

The forward needed just 74 seconds to open the scoring when he fired a deflected effort past rookie Gunners stopper Mat Ryan.

It was Watkins’ twelfth goal of the season and the fourth in his last five Premier League appearances.

Arsenal approached via Granit Xhaka’s free kick in the first half before upping the ante after the break. Nicolás Pepe and substitute Martín Odegaard had the best of their starts, but couldn’t get past their former goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, to avoid losing back-to-back losses.

The result means that Villa has posted a first league double over the Gunners since 1992-93 and has moved up to eighth in the table before the rest of the weekend’s action. Arsenal remain tenth, but could fall to the bottom half if the results go against them.

Villa will then travel to Brighton on Saturday. Arsenal host Leeds on Sunday.

Villa rediscovers form with red-hot Watkins, key to Eurocup hopes; Arsenal disappoints. Dean Smith did not strike out as he expressed his irritation after the weeknight loss to West Ham. His players duly responded with a magnificent display of determination, organization and attacking threat that has been the hallmark of his impressive season. They now have as many points as they scored in the entire last term and can continue to dream of European football given that they are just a couple of wins away from the top four (with a game in hand for most teams) in one season. full of amazing results.

In the end, the defense overcame them with a commanding team performance, but Watkins provided the platform courtesy of the early goal. Once again he demonstrated Smith’s cunning to get him to Villa Park. If he can continue to score the goal court on the set, it will be vital to Villa’s European drive and will also give Gareth Southgate and England something to think about at the Euro this summer.

As for Arsenal, it’s almost like a step forward, two steps back at times. Arteta may point to an incident in the first half that saw Ezri Konsa pick up just one caution for tripping Bukayo Saka while looking to run free from the midline, but overall he will be disappointed with his team’s lack of leading edge when operating in some. dangerous areas. They had some good situations during a dominant second period, but couldn’t find the killer touch. A seven-game unbeaten streak in the league has been followed by two losses in four days and the Gunners remain a roller coaster of inconsistencies. They will have to remedy that in the latter part of this campaign if they really want to make an effort for the European places.

Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa). The defender made a series of important blocks and interceptions. He risked his body when he needed it and embodied the spirit of the entire Villa team. A brilliant display as part of a magnificent rearguard action from the hosts.

ASTON VILLA: Martinez 8, Cash 8, Konsa 7, Mings 8, Targett 7, Nakamba 7, Barkley 7, McGinn 7, Traore 7, Watkins 8, Grealish 8. Subs: Trezeguet 6, Ramsey 6.

ARSENAL: Ryan 8, Bellerin 7, Gabriel 7, Holding 7, Cedric 6, Partey 7, Xhaka 7, Pepe 8, Smith Rowe 7, Saka 8, Lacazette 6. Subs: Aubameyang 6, Odegaard 6, Willian 6.

Matchcast: full match stats and commentary

2 ‘- GOAL! – Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal. Watkins takes Villa out to a steering wheel. The striker directs Traore’s cut from the right into the corner via a detour.

29 ‘- ARSENAL OPPORTUNITY! Xhaka doubles a superb 30-yard free throw towards the postage stamp, but is thwarted by a good save from Martinez.

31 ‘- ASTON VILLA OPPORTUNITY! Traore spins brilliantly in the area but sees his cleverly cut effort saved by Ryan. The ball breaks for Barkley, who sees his tracking blocked.

52 ‘- ARSENAL OPPORTUNITY! Pepe takes the pass from Smith Rowe, gets inside and flashes just off the far post from the left of the area.

69 ‘- ARSENAL OPPORTUNITY! Pepe spins into space on the left side of the area and sizzles on a deflected shot that Martinez somehow deflects with his right boot.

83 ‘- ASTON VILLA OPPORTUNITY! Watkins directs a shot toward the far post on the stretch, but sees it roll agonizingly wide.

84 ‘- ARSENAL OPPORTUNITY! Odegaard arrives at just the right time to meet Saka’s trimmed, but shoots over the bar. Arteta has her face in her hands. That was a great opportunity.

Ryan conceded just 74 seconds in his first Premier League start for Arsenal, becoming the fourth goalkeeper in the competition’s history to concede in the first two minutes of his full Premier League debut for a club.

Watkins is the first Aston Villa player to score in three consecutive Premier League games at Villa Park since Darren Bent in November 2011.

Martinez is the third goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in his first two Premier League appearances against a club where he had previously appeared in competition after Shaka Hislop vs Newcastle (1998-99) and Mark Schwarzer vs Middlesbrough (2008 -09).