A Villa 2 – 4 Arsenal

Arsenal ended their winless run in dramatic fashion as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park and move top of the table at the final whistle.

The Gunners were level heading into stoppage time but Jorginho’s strike bounced off the crossbar and deflected off Emiliano Martinez into the net to set off wild celebrations, before substitute Gabriel Martinelli sealed the comeback with a fourth on the breakaway.

Villa took the lead twice in the first half through Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho but Mikel Arteta’s side showed fighting spirit to level twice through Bukayo Saka and then – just after the hour mark – Oleksandr Zinchenko. But the drama is still coming.

Aaron Ramsdale headed Leon Bailey’s drive against the frame of the goal and Arsenal benefited from that escape at the end. The result took them three points clear at the top ahead of the Manchester City game later in the afternoon – restoring confidence in their title dreams.

In pictures: How Martinelli sealed the win

Arteta: ‘It really bounced’

“We showed character, resilience,” Arteta said BT sports. “In the second half we created chance after chance. We needed a moment of magic and Jorginho produced it.

“After what happened a few days ago, we are very happy to win the game. If you want to be at the top you have to win games in different ways.

“It really bounced [in the dressing room], it is a great effort to play less than 72 hours after the results we have. I really like the kids.”

How the drama unfolds at Villa Park

Villa have scored a higher proportion of goals in the opening quarter of an hour than any other Premier League side this season and against Arsenal it took just five minutes for Watkins to find the net. It was the fourth game in a row that the striker had scored.

Even before there was a danger with the speed of running at the back and when William Saliba stepped back and retreated, he took advantage – shot low beyond Ramsdale. It was the worst possible start for a faltering Arsenal but they found a response.

Saka may be in better form than Watkins and Tyrone Mings will look to call on the England winger. He struck the ball into the net beyond Martinez who couldn’t see and the away support cheered. A chance to settle, to start to control.

However, a beautiful passing goal came from Villa. Martinez made the play, Boubacar Kamara sent the ball to Alex Moreno and the full-back crossed to the delight of Emi Buendia. Coutinho did the rest, scoring his first goal of the season.

Arsenal players came out early for the second half, gathered in a huddle, out to capture the moment. Eddie Nketiah hits the crossbar with a header. Then Zinchenko leveled after Martin Odegaard’s short corner. But they still need more.

When Odegaard missed a clear chance. Villa had a great chance of their own on the counter-attack and Bailey went close to winning it for Villa – with celebrity supporter Tom Hanks cheering. He didn’t choose the script he was waiting for.

Jorginho attempted an ambitious shot from distance and the ball bounced off the goal, hitting Martinez. The keeper went straight up for a corner and was caught on the break as Fabio Vieira played unselfishly at Martinelli.

Arteta has faced the prospect of a fourth Premier League game without a win – his fifth in all competitions. That will add to the sense that the momentum is with City. What happened in stoppage time changed all that.

Arsenal will believe again.

Arsenal wins in statistics

• Arsenal have now conceded the opening goal in four of their last five Premier League games, one more than in their first 18 games of the 2022-23 campaign.
• Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
• Oleksandr Zinchenko scored his first Premier League goal in his 92nd appearance in the competition. He is Arsenal’s 13th top scorer in the league this season, the most.
• Arsenal have scored a 90th minute winner in the Premier League for the first time since Gabriel Martinelli against Crystal Palace in May 2021.

What’s next?

Aston Villa’s next outing at home for Everton Next Saturday; kick-off at 3pm. Unai Emery’s side then host Crystal Palace Friday, March 4; kick-off at 3pm.

Arsenal now will prepare for the trip to Leicester Next Saturday; kick-off at 3pm. Mikel Arteta’s side then host Everton – who beat them 1-0 earlier this month – on Wednesday March 1; kick-off 7.45pm.