That’s why Arsenal signed David Raya. For all the talk about modern goalkeepers needing to be playmakers, nothing beats someone who can keep the ball out of the net when the opposition looks like they’re going to score.
With the scores level early in the second half and Aston Villa confident in the box, Amadou Onana’s shot from the edge of the area deflected off Arsenal defender Gabriel and headed towards goal. Raya quickly recomposed himself, leapt back and sent the ball in off the bar.
But it wasn’t over there. With no defender in sight, Ollie Watkins looked certain to head home the loose ball, but as the Holte End prepared to celebrate, Raya lunged forward and deflected the ball away.
Less than 15 minutes later, substitute Leandro Trossard put Mikel Arteta’s men ahead and Thomas Partey sealed the win soon after. Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who left Arsenal four years ago, should have done better with that goal, making Raya’s saves look all the more impressive.
Martinez believes he has become the best in the world since leaving north London and was mercilessly mocked by visiting fans after that mistake.
Leandro Trossard made a stunning impact, scoring within minutes of coming on for Arsenal.
It came after David Raya made an Olympian save to deny Ollie Watkins from close range.
Nothing will be decided at this stage of the season, but last season two defeats to Villa cost Arsenal the title. Although the Gunners were lucky at times, the result was very significant.
The game did not really come to life until the 15th minute. Kick-off was delayed for five minutes, apparently due to communication problems between the referees and the VAR room, and fans continued to occupy their seats well into the first half. A new ticketing system at Villa had led to huge queues outside the stadium.
Just two minutes into the match, Amadou Onana was brought down in a clash with Jurrien Timber – who was making his first start in over a year – and there was another stoppage in play. Matty Cash twisted his ankle trying to stop Gabriel Martinelli’s cross and had to be substituted, moments before Bukayo Saka was saved from a fine low pass by Emi Martinez.
Villa were happy to give Arsenal the ball and the Gunners’ first-half build-up was sluggish. John McGinn had a heated exchange with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the Villa captain was fouled, before Ollie Watkins missed a fabulous chance to put Villa ahead.
Leon Bailey stole the ball from Gabriel and Morgan Rogers passed to Watkins. In front of the North Stand and 12 yards from goal, Watkins failed to get the ball across and the ball went wide. Villa Park complained.
Arsenal looked momentarily bewildered when Timber dragged the ball out of bounds under pressure from Cash’s replacement Kosta Nedeljkovic. However, the nerves were contagious, with Pau Torres missing a routine pass and Unai Emery stumbling along the touchline in frustration.
Although Bailey was not always sharp in attack, he was superb at the other end of the pitch when he intercepted Kai Havertz’s cross. Then there was a moment of comedy: McGinn passed the ball to William Saliba, who was lying on the ground, but Ben White smashed it straight at the Scot. Referee Michael Oliver, superb throughout, did well to calm the players down without issuing any cards.
When Martinelli received a pass from Declan Rice and crossed for Havertz, the German found himself tangled up at the near post. Rogers was beginning to worry Arsenal by backtracking and running towards their byline, and Rice was booked for holding up the young attacker as he headed towards goal.
Thomas Partey sealed the victory with a goal that Emi Martínez should have finished better
Mikel Arteta’s side played both games against Villa last season, so this is a major hurdle cleared.
Watkins rued missed opportunities as Villa failed to build on last week’s win.
Fans praised Raya for his save and one even compared him to Gordon Banks for his save.
Emi Martinez, who left Arsenal four years ago, was mocked after Partey put his shot in the box.
Arteta was also left flustered and furious when Onana escaped a booking for pushing Thomas Partey.
Raya performed a near-miracle to keep Arsenal level early in the second half. He first deflected Onana’s shot, which had been touched by Gabriel, onto the bar, before somehow recovering to stop Watkins’ subsequent header. Yes, Watkins should have scored, but Raya’s reflexes were simply stunning.
Rogers was equally exciting, picking up the ball inside his own half, ignoring attempts by Martinelli and Partey to foul him and earning his team a corner.
After Watkins’ misses, Saka became the next England star to squander a great chance. After receiving a pass from Martin Odegaard, Saka lunged at Martinez and lost his balance. At the other end, Ezri Konsa volleyed in Lucas Digne’s free-kick, but there was no one to convert it.
Moments earlier, Arteta had brought on Trossard for Martinelli and the Belgian made a spectacular impact. Saka showed tremendous speed to keep the ball alive and send it back into the danger zone, and although Rogers toed Havertz in, the ball fell perfectly for Trossard to curl past Martinez.
Villa were already creating gaps and Arsenal sealed the goal with 13 minutes remaining. Trossard slipped down the left, Saka collected his cross and found Partey, whose shot from outside the area slipped in off Martinez’s left hand.
Odegaard smashed the ball into the North Stand after Rice provided the perfect pass, but it would have been difficult for Villa to make it 3-0. Saliba still had time to make a spectacular tackle on substitute Jacob Ramsey and Arsenal won.