Arsenal make Aston Villa pay for pre-match detail supporters were not privy to

Arsenal have made a pre-match decision of Aston Villa's look somewhat questionable with their statement 2-0 victory on Saturday evening.

The Gunners arrived into the second week of the campaign facing a tough first fixture on the road. Villa Park, the site of a 1-0 defeat in December 2023, was one of two matches in which shortcomings experienced against Unai Emery's side ultimately played a key role in succumbing to Manchester City in the last title race.

Whilst early in the new term, every result eventually counts so the pressure was on Mikel Arteta's men to ensure this opponent did not cement their bogey status. And out of the sight of the watching supporters, the hosts were employing every trick possible to make the task that much more difficult.

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As the two sets of players lined up in the tunnel prior to kick-off, the furore was somewhat stolen by a technical fault amongst the officials. Communications troubles meant there was a slight delay to the start, and even still Michael Oliver's headset was still not relaying his words to his assistants in the opening encounters, according to Sky Sports.

But behind the Arsenal and Villa ranks tucked away beyond the crowd's view stood a trophy case, installed in the newly-decorated tunnel. Inside said case was the European Cup (now known as the Champions League trophy), won by the home side in 1982.

Call it a celebration of the club's achievements or call it a clear attempt to tease the Gunners, the motivations will never be truly known. Villa do deserve to celebrate their qualification for UEFA's elite competition after a 40-year absence, but they will know what they have been doing in placing the one title that has evaded the visitors inches away from the players and behind a transparent casing.

In the end it served the opposite purpose. David Raya produced what may turn out to be the save of the season, showing quick reflexes to deny Ollie Watkins a rebound at 0-0, allowing Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey to do the business at the opposite end.

Again, the fact the season is so fresh cannot be stressed enough, but a test that was failed in last season's title race has already been passed. It is now up to Arteta to maintain the good fight, and Man City may just be toppled.