Bukayo Saka scored the only goal as Premier League champions Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The England winger struck after 59 minutes, sliding in at the back post to convert Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross after a slick Arsenal move involving substitute Eberechi Eze.
Villa had defended impressively until that point and came closest to scoring during the first half when Emiliano Buendia crashed a superb long-range effort against the crossbar.
But Unai Emery’s side failed to register a shot on target for the second successive Premier League game and were unable to find a response after falling behind.
Arsenal thought they had been awarded a penalty five minutes before Saka’s goal when Ian Maatsen brought the winger down, but a VAR review showed the initial contact had taken place outside the area.
Martin Odegaard curled the resulting free-kick narrowly wide before Saka finally broke Villa’s resistance moments later.
Mikel Arteta’s side then professionally managed the closing stages, with summer signing Bruno Guimaraes making his league debut for the club from the bench.
Villa pushed forward late on but could not seriously test David Raya, while a stoppage-time VAR check rejected Arsenal appeals for a penalty after Maatsen challenged Guimaraes.
The result gives Arsenal another three points after their impressive opening-day win over Coventry, while Villa remain without a point or a goal following their 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
