Arsenal scored twice in the second half to defeat Aston Villa 2-0 at the Villa Park in their English Premier League (EPL) match on Saturday.
Leandro Trossard and Ghana’s Thomas Partey scored to ensure the Gunners exert revenge on a Villa side that derailed their title challenge last season.
Bukayo Saka had the first opportunity of the match but saw his curling effort tipped around the post while Ollie Watkins failed to hit the target from ten yards afterwards.
A cagey affair filled with chances for both sides came to life on 67 minutes when Trossard scored with his first touch of the match, a simple tap-in from Saka’s cross.
The visitors finished off their host ten minutes later, with Saka turning provider again as he laid it off for Partey to find the bottom corner despite the best attempt of Martinez who could not prevent the effort from finding the back of the net.
Victory sees Arsenal maintain their winning start to the season with Aston Villa losing theirs. Mikel Arteta’s side has now won nine of its ten away matches in the EPL. It is also Arsenal’s first points against Villa in three attempts.
In the other matches of the day, Alex Iwobi scored 70th-minute winner for Fulham in the Cottagers’ 2-1 win over Leicester City.
The 28-year-old Super Eagles of Nigeria international drilled a shot past the goalkeeper from close range for his first goal of the season to seal his team’s first win of the season. Calvin Bassey and Wilfred Ndidi also started for their respective clubs.
Erling Haaland scored a hattrick in Manchester City’s 4-1 comeback victory over promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium, while their cross-town neighbour Manchester United lost 2-1 to Brighton, no thanks to a 95th-minute goal.
RESULTS
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
Brighton 2-1 Manchester United
Fulham 2-1 Leicester City
Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich Town
Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham United
Tottenham 4-0 Everton
Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest
