Leandro Trossard's impactful cameo helped Arsenal secure a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, providing a much-needed boost following their disappointing results against Villa last season.
This win was especially significant as it ended a run of two Premier League defeats to the Villans and continued Arsenal's strong start to the season.
The match faced an initial delay due to communication issues among the officials, and further interruptions occurred when Amadou Onana and Matty Cash required treatment. Cash was forced off the pitch after just 14 minutes, with Kosta Nedeljković coming on as his replacement. Arsenal sought to capitalize on the temporary man advantage, and Bukayo Saka tested Emiliano Martínez with a curling shot that was superbly saved.
Despite the disrupted flow of the game, Gabriel Magalhães had a momentary lapse in concentration when he was dispossessed by Leon Bailey near the edge of his own box. Ollie Watkins, however, missed the opportunity as he dragged his shot wide. Arsenal maintained their composure and created a significant chance in the 39th minute when Declan Rice played a through ball to Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli's cutback found Kai Havertz, but the German's attempt failed to hit the target.
After the break, both teams continued their patient approach until Arsenal's breakthrough in the 54th minute. Onana's shot, following a pass from Morgan Rogers, struck the crossbar after deflecting off Gabriel, with David Raya then making a remarkable save to deny Watkins' follow-up effort. Another close call came when Ezri Konsa's knockdown nearly found Jhon Durán at the far post.
Trossard, who had just come on as a substitute, made an immediate impact by guiding a shot into the bottom corner in the 66th minute after Rogers' tackle redirected the ball towards him. Arsenal extended their lead 10 minutes later when Saka set up Thomas Partey, whose first-time shot slipped through Martínez's grasp to seal the win.
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