Saka gives Arsenal a second straight Premier League victory

Arsenal claimed their second victory in as many matches this season by winning 0-1 away at Aston Villa on Monday, August 31, in the closing match of the second matchday of the Premier League. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute, rewarding the Gunners’ relative dominance throughout the evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side had launched their campaign ten days earlier with a convincing victory against Coventry. This trip to Villa Park represented a far more demanding test, against an Aston Villa team led by Unai Emery. Arsenal passed it without flinching, even though the match hinged on this single moment of brilliance from Saka, who was played into space and clinical in his finish.

On the Villa side, the eleven fielded by Emery notably included Victor Nilsson Lindelöf and Pau Torres in central defence, as well as Emiliano Buendía and Ross Barkley in midfield. Despite a few interesting situations, Villa never truly troubled David Raya in the London goal.

With six points from six, Arsenal join Chelsea, Manchester City and Hull City among the teams with two victories from two matches. The Gunners’ next fixture promises to be immediately crucial: they will host Chelsea in six days, in what is already shaping up as a top-of-the-table clash between two teams with perfect records.