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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 Premier League table.
The Gunners were level going into stoppage time but Jorginho’s strike came back off the crossbar and deflected off Emiliano Martinez into the net to spark wild celebrations, before substitute Gabriel Martinelli capped the comeback with a fourth on the breakaway.
Villa led twice in the first half through Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho but Mikel Arteta’s team showed their fighting spirit to level it twice through Bukayo Saka and then – just after the hour – Oleksandr Zinchenko. But the drama was still to come.
Aaron Ramsdale tipped Leon Bailey’s drive against the frame of the goal and Arsenal capitalised on that escape very late on. The result moved them two points clear at the top with a game in hand over Manchester City after the champions could only draw 1-1 at Nottingham Forest.
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In pictures: How Martinelli sealed the win
Arteta: ‘It was absolutely bouncing’
“We showed character, resilience,” Arteta told BT Sport. “In the second half we created chance after chance. We needed a magic moment and Jorginho produced it.
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“After what happened a few days ago, we’re so pleased to win the game. If you want to be at the top you have to win games in many different ways.
“It was absolutely bouncing [in the dressing room], it was a big effort to play less than 72 hours after result we had. I’m really pleased with the boys.”
How the drama unfolded at Villa Park
Villa have scored a higher proportion of goals in the opening quarter of an hour than any other Premier League team this season and against Arsenal they required only five minutes for Watkins to find the net. It is the fourth game in a row in which the striker has scored.
There had been a warning even before that with his speed running in behind and when William Saliba backed off and backed off he took advantage – firing low beyond Ramsdale. It was the worst start for a wobbling Arsenal but they found a response.
Saka might be in even better form than Watkins and Tyrone Mings’ clearance would have looked inviting to the England winger. He lashed the ball into the net beyond an unsighted Martinez and the away support loved it. A chance to settle, to start to control.
SOURCE:Skyreports