Watkins hits double as Villa thrash abject Arsenal

Ollie Watkins scored twice as an abject Arsenal were soundly beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa at the Emirates.

The visitors might have been ahead after just 47 seconds when John McGinn’s strike was disallowed for offside upon VAR review with Ross Barkley deemed to have been in Bernd Leno’s eyeline.

But the reprieve was short-lived as Bukayo Saka inadvertently stabbed Matt Targett’s cross into his own net (25).

Watkins – a boyhood Arsenal fan – then took centre stage with two well-taken finishes (72, 75) to complete a fine away victory and a statement of intent from Dean Smith’s men.

The result moves Villa up to sixth in the table while Arsenal slip to 11th.

Back to the drawing board for Arsenal

Victory at Old Trafford last weekend was another step in the right direction under Mikel Arteta, and the Spaniard would have expected his side to build on that morale-boosting result against favoured foes.

The Gunners had won their previous three home league games against Villa by an aggregate score of 12-2 – but they nearly made a nightmare start.

Inside 47 seconds, Villa thought they had opened the scoring inside the opening minute of the contest when John McGinn brilliantly lashed home from inside the box.

The goal was eventually ruled out, however, after a VAR check that lasted three minutes and 44 seconds deemed Ross Barkley had been standing offside and blocked Bernd Leno’s view of the strike.

The hosts were struggling to keep things tight at the back and Villa soon took the lead as Jack Grealish and Barkley combined to free Targett, whose low cross was turned into his own net at the back post by Saka.

Arsenal rarely threatened Emiliano Martinez on his return to the Emirates in the opening half with just one shot on target despite 64 per cent possession. Willian skied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross from the edge of the box prior to Saka’s own goal before Thomas Partey did the same from Mohamed Elneny’s cut-back.

But Arteta’s men ought to have restored parity when Alexandre Lacazette rose unattended to meet Kieran Tierney’s cross only to direct his header off target from close range. Arsenal had only won one of their six games under Arteta when trailing at the break – going on to lose each of the previous four – so a rousing team-talk was needed.

Whatever was said, there was no rousing response.

Rob Holding hooked Gabriel’s set-up wide before substitute Nicolas Pepe collected Eddie Nketiah’s pass before bending a fierce effort beyond the post, but Villa continued to dictate.

“They’ve bullied and bossed Arsenal,” Lee Hendrie said on Sky Sports commentary, and the evidence was clear.

This was the Premier League’s stingiest defence prior to the weekend, but the excellent Grealish lost Holding before forcing Leno into a fingertip save.

Villa found breathing space when Watkins headed home Barkley’s brilliant volleyed delivery from close range. It ought to have got worse for Arsenal when Dani Ceballos was then in the right place on the line to hook Grealish’s shot off the line from Barkley’s cross.

But it proved only a short respite as Watkins doubled his tally for the evening, finishing coolly past Leno after more fine work from Grealish. Victorious at United, but it’s now back-to-back home defeats – and back to the drawing board for Arsenal.

Man of the match – Ross Barkley

This was the complete away performance from Aston Villa. Strong in defence with an interchangeable front line. Barkley has reignited his career under Smith, and was at the heart of everything good about Villa alongside the magnificent Grealish.

It was here in December 2013 where as a 20-year-old for Everton he stole the show with a superb individual display in a 1-1 draw, Arteta started and finished that game and so knows all about him – but had no answer.

Barkley produced six key passes and had more shots than any of his team-mates, providing a superb assist for Watkins’ crucial first to take the game away from Arsenal.

Villa show their strength – Opta stats

• Aston Villa have won each of their first three away league games in a season for the first time in their history.
• This was Arsenal’s worst home league defeat since December 2019 versus Manchester City (also 0-3).
• Only Chelsea (five) have won more away league games than Aston Villa (four) at the Emirates Stadium.
• Aston Villa are the third side in Premier League history to win each of their first three away games in a season without conceding a goal, after Chelsea in 2005-06 and Manchester City in 2015-16.

What’s next?

Arsenal travel to face Leeds live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday, November 22; kick-off is at 4.30pm.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa host Brighton on Saturday, November 21 at 3pm.

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