Saka earns hard-fought win for Arsenal at Villa

Bukayo Saka's goal just before the hour mark was enough for champions Arsenal to maintain their perfect start with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park. <p>This fixture was one of the few matches that the Gunners lost in winning the Premier League title last season but Saka's close-range effort decided what was a tight game despite an improved showing from Unai Emery's much-changed Aston Villa line-up.</p><p>Villa were four down after 31 minutes in that astonishing capitulation at Brighton on the opening weekend but they showed far more resilience against the Gunners from the outset. Emiliano Buendia crashed the ball against David Raya's crossbar on 12 minutes.</p><widget id="6"></widget><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/aston-villa-vs-arsenal/559454">As it happened</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/aston-villa-vs-arsenal/teams/559454">Teams</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/aston-villa-vs-arsenal/stats/559454">Stats</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/12040/13568761/watch-premier-league-goals-and-highlights-free-online-for-every-match-in-2026-27-season">Watch FREE PL highlights</a></strong></li><li><strong>Latest news and rumours: <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/41780/13025491/aston-villa-transfer-news-rumours-and-gossip-live-updates-and-latest-on-deals-signings-loans-and-contracts">Aston Villa</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11095/13025486/arsenal-transfer-news-rumours-and-gossip-live-updates-and-latest-on-deals-signings-loans-and-contracts">Arsenal</a></strong></li><li><strong>Got Sky? <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles" target="_blank">Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone</a>\ud83d\udcf1</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? <a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink%5C%5C">Get Sky Sports</a> or <a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink%5C%5C">stream with no contract on NOW</a> \ud83d\udcfa</strong></li></ul><p>Mikel Arteta's men, unchanged from the win over Coventry, were their usual probing selves, asking searching questions from set pieces and controlling possession for long periods. But Gabriel's mistimed header was as close as they came in the first half.</p><p>Christos Tzolis was substituted at half-time having been booked and running the risk of a red card after that, but the introduction of Eberechi Eze worked out well. Arsenal ramped up the pressure in the second half with the ever-impressive Saka to the fore.</p> <widget id="7"></widget> <widget id="8"></widget><p>Arsenal's talisman thought he had won a penalty early in the second half but Ian Maatsen's foul was ruled to be outside the box following a VAR review. It mattered not because he forced in Riccardo Calafiori's centre from close range soon afterwards.</p><p>The home side, who included debutants Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson in their starting line-up, pushed for an equaliser but Arsenal, who brought on former Villa man Ezri Konsa late on, stayed strong to claim the win. A show of strength by the champions.</p> <widget id="10"></widget> <widget id="2"></widget> <widget id="3"></widget><h3>The key moments from Villa Park</h3><p>12 - <strong>BAR!</strong> Buendia lashes the ball against Raya's crossbar</p><p>56 - <strong>VAR!</strong> Saka denied penalty as Maatsen's foul is outside box</p><p>59 - <strong>GOAL! </strong>Calafiori's low cross is forced into the net by Saka</p><p>75 - <strong>MISS!</strong> Suzuki saves one-on-one from Havertz but he is off</p><h3>Arteta hails 'massive win'</h3><p><strong><em>Arsenal</em></strong><em> manager <strong>Mikel Arteta</strong> speaking to Sky Sports:</em></p><p>"Really happy. A massive win. A tough place to come and earn the three points. We deserved it. A great squad performance - because when 11 wasn't enough the finishers came in and did a magnificent job to finish off the game.</p><p>"Last year we lost here in a really difficult way, with the last kick of the game. And that was still in the tummy.</p><p>"We are in the second game and it's like, 'we have to win this game!'</p><p>"We know that last year was the same. We know the level, we know how difficult it is for every team to earn points in this league, so we have to be really proud tonight."</p><h3>Emery focuses on the positives</h3><p><em><strong>Aston Villa</strong> manager <strong>Unai Emery</strong> speaking to Sky Sports:</em></p><p>"We've lost. We competed well. We are trying to rebuild the team but a lot of positive things after the result. How we compete defensively, with the ball. We didn't create clear chances but we didn't concede clear chances. It was so equal, the match.</p><p>"Some players made their debut, fantastic. Suzuki, Jackson both very good work. The first step forward, Today is positive for the next matches.</p><p>"To lose one match is painful but after we must try to get positive things. This is the reason I am being optimistic. There are 38 matches, we played two matches and didn't achieve points but hopefully we can get better."</p><h3>Arsenal's depth stands out</h3><p>Tzolis has made a promising start to his Arsenal career but this was a more difficult evening for him. The response from Arteta? Bring on Eze. He helped open it up for Arsenal to win. When Villa pushed, the Arsenal boss turned to Bruno Guimaraes and Mikel Merino to battle it out.</p><p>"Guimaraes demonstrated already with a couple of passes he's going to be something very different to what they've already got," said Gary Neville on co-commentary for<em> Sky Sports</em>.</p><p>"He cuts through with his passing; he always looks for that furthest forward pass. Arsenal sometimes are guilty of recycling it too much - he won't do that."</p><p>But just as significant was how robust Arsenal looked in seeing this out. As well as the physical midfield trio, Konsa came on for Cristh...