Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE!

Arsenal twice battled back from behind as an injury-time own goal from Emiliano Martinez helped them to a hard-fought victory at Aston Villa and breathed new life into their Premier League title bid.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper and World Cup winner could do nothing as Jorginho's fine strike cannoned off the crossbar and against the back of his head to settle a thrilling contest 4-2 in favour of the Gunners.

Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho had the home side ahead on two occasions, only for fine strikes from Bukayo Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko to level for Arsenal.

Their winless run looked set to be extended to four Premier League games before Martinez inadvertently helped out his old side and substitute Gabriel Martinelli tapped into an empty net after the Villa stopper went up for a late corner.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal highlights

  • GOAL! Watkins strikes early

  • GOAL! Saka unleashes brilliant leveller

  • GOAL! Coutinho finishes off fine team move

  • GOAL! Zinchenko hammers home equaliser

  • GOAL! Martinez own goal in injury time

  • GOAL! Martinelli caps win with simple finish

Aston Villa FC 2 - 4 Arsenal FC

Thanks for joining us!

15:24 , Marc Mayo

What a game at Villa Park as Arsenal reinvigorate their Premier League title tilt with a late, late comeback win.

Recap the action with our match report!

 (PA)
(PA)

Analysis

15:22 , Marc Mayo

Simon’s analysis of Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal is now online.

Read the full story!

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Fancy more football?

15:10 , Marc Mayo

Lots of 3pm kick-offs are underway and we’re focusing on Chelsea vs Southampton at Standard Sport.

Follow our live blog!

BIG scenes at full-time

15:04 , Marc Mayo

Mikel Arteta on BT Sport

14:58 , Marc Mayo

“We showed a lot of character, resilience to come back twice and win it. We have to takes lessons we we didn’t do the simple things right in the first half.

“We spoke at half-time about raising standards, which is really difficult in this game, and we went out and won it.

“It took [Zinchenko] too long [to score], he’s been practising!

“When you want to get to the top, you have to win games in many different ways. To do it against this team and in this stadium is a big credit to this team.”

Player ratings

14:54 , Marc Mayo

Simon’s delivered his player ratings with Bukayo Saka and Jorginho his stars for Arsenal.

Read the full story!

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Martin Keown discusses the Emi Martinez own goal on BT Sport

14:48 , Marc Mayo

“I thought it was ironic, I seem to have spent a whole hour watching him waste time.

“Look, he was a great player for Arsenal and maybe shouldn’t have gone.

“It’s really ironic that he should waste that amount of time and then it goes in off his head - but that can happen.”

Arsenal retake title lead

14:42 , Marc Mayo

Arsenal are now three points clear of Manchester City having played the same number of games as Pep Guardiola’s men.

They kick-off at Nottingham Forest in just 20 minutes’ time...

Highlights: The bonkers late winner

14:38 , Marc Mayo

Jorginho delivers his reaction to BT Sport

14:35 , Marc Mayo

“That’s the Premier League. The best league in the world. Beautiful.

“We had a chat at half-time, went back to basics which was what we needed to go. And we changed the game.”

Highlights: The 2-2 leveller

14:33 , Marc Mayo

Martin Keown on BT Sport

14:32 , Marc Mayo

“Psychologically that’s a huge strike back after being on the floor. City know they have to respond. A really good reply from Arsenal.”

FULL TIME! Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal

14:29 , Marc Mayo

Wow.

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)

GGGOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!! Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal

14:28 , Marc Mayo

90+8 mins: Martinelli races clear and scores into an empty net!

GAME OVER!

14:27 , Marc Mayo

90+7 mins: Villa corner and Martinez comes up...

14:25 , Marc Mayo

90+5 mins: Holding and Tierney on for Odegaard and Zinchenko as Arsenal look to see out a huge, huge win. Villa are stunned.

GGGGOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!! Aston Villa 2-3 Arsenal

14:23 , Marc Mayo

90+3 mins: IT’S IN!

Jorginho unleashes a shot from range and it hits the bar, bangs off Martinez’s head and into the net!

14:21 , Marc Mayo

90+2 mins: Great play by Ramsey to rob Martinelli and spark a counter.

Duran into the box and his effort is palmed away by Ramsdale!

14:20 , Marc Mayo

90 mins: Arteta furious as a free-kick is called back for a moving ball, the Arsenal boss sarcastically mimicking the referee’s motion to pull the play back!

The board goes up for six added minutes...

14:19 , Marc Mayo

88 mins: No great sense of urgency from the home team as the clock ticks by.

Can Arsenal muster a late spell in attack?

14:17 , Marc Mayo

86 mins: Arsenal back on the offensive and Jorginho threads a lovely pass into the box, for Saka to latch onto and spin. His low shot is right at Martinez.

14:13 , Marc Mayo

84 mins: Gabriel flicks a header over from Odegaard’s free-kick, Martinez caught in no man’s land...

Martinez booked for time wasting at the restart.

Aston Villa chance!

14:12 , Marc Mayo

82 mins: WHAT A SAVE!

Superb touch, run and shot by Bailey which rattles the underside of the crossbar, having received a faint touch by Ramsdale.

14:09 , Marc Mayo

79 mins: Vieira and Tomiyasu replace Xhaka and White now for Arsenal, the right-back having played rather well.

14:08 , Marc Mayo

78 mins: Final Villa substitutions as Watkins and Moreno depart for Duran and Digne.

Arsenal chance!

14:07 , Marc Mayo

77 mins: WHAT A CHANCE!

Konsa hands Nketiah the ball in the Villa box and the pass is rolled to Odegaard...

Wide! He has to score. Has to.

14:06 , Marc Mayo

76 mins: Cash, whose had a fine game, tackles the ball into touch and Martinelli looks to have hurt his knee in that.

The corner is looped towards Saka and his mishit effort is hammered clear.

14:05 , Marc Mayo

74 mins: Arsenal looking a bit flimsy at the back with any goal now likely to be the winner, although Villa’s latest attack falls down after an errant Bailey ball towards the box.

McGinn places a long-range hit at the goalkeeper and the game is opening up...

14:00 , Marc Mayo

71 mins: Martinelli looks threatening on a counter from a Villa corner and has home defenders swarming around him by the time he gets to the box, and his pass to Nketiah is overhit.

13:58 , Marc Mayo

68 mins: Trossard, a fairly quiet performer on his first league start for Arsenal, is replaced by Martinelli.

13:56 , Marc Mayo

66 mins: As with after the first equaliser, Arsenal look much the better team now so it’s little surprise to see Emery go to his bench again.

Buendia and Douglas Luiz off, Bailey and Dendoncker on.

Arsenal chance!

13:54 , Marc Mayo

63 mins: Nketiah breaks in behind, shrugs off the defender but has a difficult task to swivel and shoot...

His chip goes over the bar!

Meanwhile, Ramsey on for Coutinho in a change Villa had planned before the goal.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:53 , Marc Mayo

The level of defending from both teams has been so poor today. Great entertainment at least.

GGGOOOOOAAALLLL!!! Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal

13:51 , Marc Mayo

61 mins: ZINCHENKO!

Saka wins a corner after a scramble in the six-yard box, which is played to Zinchenko in the D and he slams a no-nonsense finish past Martinez!

Game. On.

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)

13:50 , Marc Mayo

60 mins: Douglas Luiz dances clear to spark a counter but Saliba is a match for Watkins, eventually claiming the ball back.

Arsenal break and Saka’s shot is blocked by Mings.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:48 , Marc Mayo

Break in play and Arteta uses it to call a mini team talk. Saka also uses the time to chat to the physio. His ankle seems okay for now.

13:47 , Marc Mayo

57 mins: Worry for Villa now as Cash took a hit in going for that header. Nketiah, perfectly innocently, landed on him.

CROSSBAR!

13:46 , Marc Mayo

56 mins: Fantastic ball in by White and Nketiah rises well at the far post, his header clipping the top of the woodwork!

13:44 , Marc Mayo

53 mins: Saka has been everywhere for Arsenal and that includes in the wars.

Odegaard jogs over to the England international as he receives treatment from the physio.

Martinelli is putting his vest back on as strapping is applied to Saka, who looks like he’ll play through the pain.

13:42 , Marc Mayo

52 mins: Another good Villa intervention to deny Arsenal as Odegaard again finds a good position, tees up Xhaka and Douglas Luiz flies in with a sturdy block.

Saka fires wide from the corner and stays down hurt!

13:41 , Marc Mayo

51 mins: Good link-up between White and Saka in the box yet Arsenal lack a player to hit in the middle, Konsa heading clear as Nketiah arrives too late - the striker conceding a foul.

13:38 , Marc Mayo

48 mins: A bit of space for Arsenal with Odegaard popping up in an advance spot, laying it to Saka who loops his shot high and wide.

13:38 , Marc Mayo

47 mins: Muted at Villa Park with the start of the second half, no changes for either side.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:36 , Marc Mayo

Don’t often see that. Arsenal were sent out early and another huddle took place before the kick-off. Odegaard led it.

Kick-off! Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:35 , Marc Mayo

Back underway.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:31 , Marc Mayo

Very rare you see Saka react like he did at the end of that half. A clear sign he has had enough of the rough treatment. Maybe it’s the spark Arsenal need?

Stat check

13:29 , Marc Mayo

Three goals from six shots combined between the teams, Aston Villa with four to Arsenal’s two.

The Gunners have held 68 per cent possession and won all three corners but, as is so often the case of the side dominating the ball, they’ve struggled to make the most of it and lack presence up front.

First-half highlights: Aston Villa’s fine team goal to retake the lead

13:26 , Marc Mayo

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:22 , Marc Mayo

Very rare you see Saka react like that. A clear sign he has had enough of the rough treatment. Maybe it’s the spark Arsenal need?

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Half time! Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:20 , Marc Mayo

A very entertaining lunchtime kick-off in the Midlands!

Watkins’ early goal was cancelled out by Saka before Villa hit back through Coutinho.

13:19 , Marc Mayo

45+2 mins: Saka and Douglas Luiz booked for that incident.

13:18 , Marc Mayo

45+1 mins: Odegaard down injured and Villa concede a foul on Saka, which the Arsenal man is not happy about.

A bit of a fracas after Coutinho bumps the winger to the ground, not much of a foul for him to react to in all honesty.

13:16 , Marc Mayo

45 mins: Two minutes added on as Saka crosses and Cash heads clear under pressure.

13:15 , Marc Mayo

44 mins: All a bit quiet and muted from the Gunners as the break nears.

13:11 , Marc Mayo

40 mins: Nketiah has barely been in the game and picks up a good Xhaka ball into the box, yet Arsenal just revert to knocking it around 30 yards from goal.

Saka looks to break in and Buendia does a great job on him, winning a goal kick.

13:10 , Marc Mayo

38 mins: Just the two shots on goal for Arsenal in this half.

VAR, meanwhile, wants a look at Saka following through on Moreno with a studs-up challenge but he did get the ball before the man. Play on.

13:06 , Marc Mayo

34 mins: Back to square one for Arsenal, who conceded the opener after just five minutes and have now seen Saka’s leveller cancelled out.

The home team once again happy to sit back a touch and play on the counter, with both their goals coming from clinical, direct play.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:04 , Marc Mayo

A big theme from Arsenal’s brilliant first half of the season was the sense of control you felt they had in games. Not so today, this match is becoming so stretched. Just how Villa will want it.

GGGOOOOAAAALLLL!! Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal

13:02 , Marc Mayo

32 mins: COUTINHO! WHAT A GOAL!

Super, flowing football from Villa down the left flank and worked into the Brazilian, who finishes from the penalty spot.

Against the run of play, the hosts lead again!

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)

13:02 , Marc Mayo

31 mins: Saka picks himself up for a corner and swings it in towards Gabriel, but Martinez makes a fine claim amongst the crowd.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

13:00 , Marc Mayo

One to watch but Saka not running that freely at the moment. Martinelli has just been warming up and Smith Rowe now gone too.

12:59 , Marc Mayo

27 mins: Luiz hits a free-kick into Arsenal’s wall and Saka does well to bring the ball clear as Moreno looks to recycle the opportunity.

12:56 , Marc Mayo

25 mins: Saka now has at least a goal or assist in 15 of his last 20 Premier League appearances. That is some form!

12:55 , Marc Mayo

23 mins: Xhaka goes down under Cash’s pressure and the Gunners are looking like the side much more likely to grab the third goal.

12:51 , Marc Mayo

20 mins: Saka is down for Arsenal after a tangle, but that’s just an impact injury competing for the ball and he’ll carry on.

12:49 , Marc Mayo

18 mins: Zinchenko takes aim from 30 yards and picks out the goalkeeper with a dipping effort.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

12:48 , Marc Mayo

Bad defending for Villa’s opener and that’s more poor stuff for Arsenal’s goal. Mings literally heads it straight to Saka. A gift, just when the Gunners needed one.

GGGOOOOOAAALLLL!!!! Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal

12:47 , Marc Mayo

16 mins: SAKA!

Mings turns a harmless cross right back into the danger area but take nothing away from the finish, Saka absolutely leathers his effort into the top corner!

All square.

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

12:45 , Marc Mayo

14 mins: A spell of Arsenal pressure which Villa see out without any more trouble for Martinez.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

12:44 , Marc Mayo

An ominous stat from Opta: “That’s the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League match this season”.

12:43 , Marc Mayo

12 mins: White offside as he gets in behind and Mings brilliantly turns his goalbound effort onto the crossbar as he stretched to clear.

It wouldn’t have counted, though.

12:42 , Marc Mayo

11 mins: Watkins nearly catches Ramsdale dithering on the ball!

Arsenal playing in a different timezone right now.

12:41 , Marc Mayo

10 mins: Nketiah very lucky to avoid a booking for diving outside the box.

“Same old Arsenal, always cheating,” sung out by the Villa fans.

12:39 , Marc Mayo

8 mins: Mikel Arteta’s side have faced plenty of tests in recent weeks and here is another.

Villa looking happy to let them have non-threatening possession now, with the confidence they can break quick and get at the Arsenal defence.

Very little to threaten Martinez’s goal, too.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

12:38 , Marc Mayo

Just like against Manchester City on Wednesday, Arsenal are punished for an individual error. An excellent finish from Watkins to be fair, with his wrong foot.

GGGGOOOOOAAALLLL!!! Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

12:36 , Marc Mayo

5 mins: WATKINS!

Zinchenko caught on the ball in attack by Cash and a fine ball picks out Watkins, who drives past Saliba and buries his effort!

Not the start Arsenal needed...

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)

12:36 , Marc Mayo

4 mins: Arsenal have Odegaard sat on Douglas Luiz when Villa have the ball to try and shut down the Brazilian from orchestrating play.

Lots of technique in that Villa midfield, with Coutinho back in the XI.

12:33 , Marc Mayo

2 mins: Former Arsenal transfer target Douglas Luiz lets an opportunistic effort from range fly... off target.

Villa looking to press the Gunners a lot on the ball in their own half.

12:32 , Marc Mayo

1 min: Black armbands worn by both sides after this morning’s sad news of Christian Atsu’s death in the Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Kick-off!

12:31 , Marc Mayo

Referee Simon Hooper blows his whistle and Aston Villa vs Arsenal gets underway!

Simon Collings at Villa Park

12:30 , Marc Mayo

Arsenal come in for a huddle before kick-off and Granit Xhaka is barking out orders. Feels like a huge game for the Gunners today. They need to stop the slide.

Here come the players!

12:27 , Marc Mayo

John McGinn and Martin Odegaard lead their sides out into Villa Park!

Countdown to kick-off

12:25 , Marc Mayo

The last four meetings between these teams at Villa Park have been evenly split, two wins apiece, with just five goals scored.

 (AP)
(AP)

Mikel Arteta plays down title chat

12:20 , Marc Mayo

Manchester City are the favourites to win the Premier League title - and always have been.

That’s according to Mikel Arteta who said ahead of today’s game: “I don’t think we have ever been favourites, I don’t think that has changed.

“Man City have been the No1 candidates from day one because they have been in that position for much of the last five years.”

Aston Villa vs Arsenal video preview

12:16 , Marc Mayo

Countdown to kick-off

12:11 , Marc Mayo

The warm-ups are in full flow with kick-off in just over 15 minutes...

Famous face in the home dressing room

12:07 , Marc Mayo

In the week it was Will Ferrell and now Tom Hanks is the latest Hollywood celebrity.

Of course, the actor is one of the surprisingly high number of famous people who inexplicably support Aston Villa.

Away shirt for the Gunners today

12:02 , Marc Mayo

Unai Emery speaks out on Arsenal tenure

11:57 , Marc Mayo

It was a highly eventful 18 months Unai Emery experienced at Arsenal, from two opening defeats to 11 wins in a row, a title bid capitulation and a Europa League final (complete with capitulation) before a bad run and sacking.

But the Spaniard still looks fondly on his time in north London.

He said in the week: “At Arsenal, I had very good experiences. I enjoyed it there.

“I was there for one and a half years. But you have to use those moments to learn, to get stronger and I became a better coach after my experiences in Arsenal.

“I’m so grateful to Arsenal, to the owners, to the supporters, to the players. But I’m very grateful to everybody here and I will use my experiences from my time at Arsenal and get better with Aston Villa.”

 (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

A huge day in the Premier League

11:52 , Marc Mayo

How does seven hours of almost non-stop top-flight football sound to you?

Mikel Arteta explains his team selection to BT Sport

11:47 , Marc Mayo

“The plan is to give Leandro the chance he deserves in the starting XI, he’s made an impact whenever he’s been on the field. We needed some changes and some energy.

“I saw how we competed against the best team in the world and we gave the game away, but I have a lot of trust in them.

“We’re going to have to start really well, we know all about the atmosphere - but we need to have much more efficiency in both boxes and that will decide the game.”

Aston Villa welcome back Philippe Coutinho

11:43 , Marc Mayo

Five changes for Aston Villa, four of which are on the wings.

Alex Moreno and Philippe Coutinho start on the left with John McGinn in front of Matty Cash on the right. Tyrone Mings also returns, in central defence.

Two changes for Arsenal

11:38 , Marc Mayo

Leandro Trossard makes his first Premier League start for Arsenal today as Gabriel Martinelli drops to the bench.

That’s the first league game this season where the Brazilian has not been named in the XI.

Takehiro Tomiyasu also drops out for the Gunners, Ben White starting and Emile Smith Rowe back in the squad.

The Aston Villa line-up is in

11:33 , Marc Mayo

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Luis, Kamara, Coutinho; Bailey, Watkins.

Subs: Sinisalo, Traore, Chambers, Young, Duran, Digne, Bailey, Dendoncker, Ramsey.

How Arsenal line up today

11:31 , Marc Mayo

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Trossard.

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Holding, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Nelson, Martinelli.

Will Gabriel Martinelli start?

11:25 , Marc Mayo

A lot of emphasis on the Brazilian’s lack of form since the turn of the year.

He said after the Man City defeat: “I think I can improve. I think everyone in the team can improve. I always try to rewatch the game and see what my mistakes were and try to improve. It’s not going to be different with this game.

“I am going to rewatch the game and see my mistakes and try to improve for the next game. Mistakes are part of the game, and we need to nail it and try to not make them. It’s easy to say now, when you are here, but when you are on the pitch, it is so much harder.

“Of course, in a game like this, the team that makes less mistakes are going to win the game, and they won today. We are a team. If one [player] makes a mistake, it’s not him, it’s everyone. We are a team.”

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal team news

11:20 , Marc Mayo

Hearing there could be two changes for Arsenal with Takehiro Tomiyasu one of those dropped...

Countdown to kick-off

11:15 , Marc Mayo

Team news is expcted out in the next 15 minutes at a sunny Villa Park!

Simon Collings at Villa Park

11:11 , Marc Mayo

Stay tuned for analysis, player ratings and report from our Arsenal correspondent at today’s game.

Jorginho key for Gunners

11:07 , Marc Mayo

With Thomas Partey absent today for Arsenal, once again Jorginho is expected to step up and start at Villa Park.

During the week, Simon wrote about how the Italian’s experience has helped him settle quickly in north London and bring a calm head to their title challenge.

Read the full story!

 (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website