An in-form Aston Villa hosted fourth-placed Arsenal in an interesting game of football that ended 1-0 in the Gunners’ favour.

The Gunners, perhaps expectedly, started the stronger side, and fashioned several early chances against the hosts. While Bukayo Saka hit his shot over the crossbar in the 3rd minute, Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had to pull off two saves in quick succession around the 10 minute mark to keep his side in the game.

Despite dogged defence by the home side, the Gunners kept pushing for the opening goal relentlessly and were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 30th minute when Saka hit a sweet half-volley from the edge of the box to give Arsenal the lead.

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As the half went on, things got heated, which saw Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings, and John McGinn, along with Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka get booked.

The half ended 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour.

Arsenal started the second half in a fashion similar to the first, and forced a series of early saves and blocks from the home side.

The Gunners’ dominance saw Villa getting few chances to play their own game, but striker Ollie Watkins managed to fashion a rare counter-attack for the home side near the hour-mark, but his teammate McGinn blasted his shot over the crossbar.

As the clocked ticked on, another great chance fell the home side’s way, but Watkin’s deflected shot hit the post instead of the back of the net, keeping the score 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour.

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With the game in its final 10 minutes, Villa mounted a valiant effort to fight back and equalise, but failed to penetrate a resilient Arsenal defence.

The match ended 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour, consolidating the Gunners’ position in the fourth place of the Premier League table. Arsenal now have 54 points from 28 games, and have a game in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United, who have 51 points from 29 games.

Villa, meanwhile, are ninth, with 36 points from 29 games.