Arsenal V Aston Villa review

Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa review

By Jack Lacey-Hatton

After a difficult night to start to the week against Crystal Palace on Monday, Arsenal found top gear under the lights to ease past Aston Villa.

In one of the best displays of the season so far, goals from Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the impressive Emile Smith-Rowe sealed a 3-1 win.

Here’s the review of the action from Friday night at the Emirates Stadium.

 

Finding consistency

A 3-1 victory over Dean Smith’s Villains meant it is now seven games unbeaten in all competitions for Arsenal.

The draws against Brighton and Palace either side of the international break did understandably leave some fans frustrated that precious points were being wasted.

But keeping up an unbeaten run when not at your best is an important trait for any Premier League side chasing European football.

Yet they roared back to form against Villa with a storming first half, dominating possession and forcing the opposition into mistakes.

Although the opposition kept plugging away and got a late consolation, the result was never really in doubt once Aubameyang slammed in a penalty rebound to give the Gunners a two-goal lead.

This is the consistency the Gunners failed to find so often last season and will be so important if Mikel Arteta’s side are to have a better campaign this year.

 

Smith Rowe shines

It was another impressive performance from young star Emile Smith Rowe, who tormented Villa’s defensive players throughout.

He capped off an all-action display with the killer goal in the 56th minute. The English midfielder won the ball in his own half, drove forward into the penalty area and then finished the move via a deflection and the post.

Creative, hard-working and with a goal and an assist for good measure, this was a star display from the 21 year-old.

Ironically, it came against the club who were looking to sign him in the summer as a replacement for Jack Grealish. Thankfully, the Arsenal hierarchy decided he couldn’t be allowed to leave.

After the game, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Smith Rowe is the best dribbler at pace in the entire league, and on the basis of this game it was hard to disagree with the former Liverpool defender.

It wasn’t just pundits, Smith Rowe’s manager was also full of praise, saying he has taken on his game to a new level. Hopefully Smith Rowe continues to impress over the coming weeks.

Bukayo Saka

 

Finally having a Partey

Over a year since signing for the Gunners, Thomas Partey finally got off the mark for Arsenal on Friday night.

He headed home the opener in the 23rd minute, having already hit the crossbar earlier in the game. You almost sensed a goal for him was inevitable.

Partey has largely impressed, when able to get on the pitch and not be injured, since his arrival 12 months ago.

But for a powerful box-to-box midfielder, adding a few goals to his game would always be welcome, particularly considering he averaged 3.2 goals per season in all competitions during his time at Atletico Madrid.

Hopefully his goal in this comfortable win is a sign of things to come and we see him chip in a few more times this season.

Photo Credit: Getty Images



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