Image Source : AP Ollie Watkins and Rob Holding
Aston Villa maintained its push for a end within the European qualification positions by beating Arsenal 1-0 within the Premier League because of a purpose after 74 seconds by Ollie Watkins on Saturday.
Bertrand Traore pounced on a free go by Cedric Soares and crossed to Watkins, whose first-time shot from a central place took a deflection off Rob Holding and squirmed into the online previous Mat Ryan — an Arsenal debutant in purpose.
Emi Martinez, a goalkeeper offered by Arsenal within the final offseason, preserved Villa’s win with a number of superb saves, notably from a free kick by Granit Xhaka that was heading into the highest nook.
Villa moved into eighth place and solely 5 factors behind Liverpool, which got here into the twenty third spherical of video games in fourth place. Villa has a sport in hand, too, after lacking two fixtures early within the new yr due to a coronavirus outbreak within the squad.
It was a second straight loss for mid-table Arsenal, which was overwhelmed 2-1 by Wolverhampton on Tuesday when it additionally had goalkeeper Bernd Leno and defender David Luiz despatched off.