Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: summary: score, goals, highlights, Premier League 23-24

Villa 1-0 Arsenal

A packed Villa Park were treated to another thrilling Premier League encounter as in-form Aston Villa edged out Arsenal in a tense and compelling clash. 

The only goal of the contest came in the 7th minute as Jack McGinn swiveled in the box to instinctively tick the ball past David Raya in the Arsenal goal and for the rest of the first half, Villa sat deeper and invited Arsenal to attack. 

The Gunners almost equalised when Martinelli chipped Martinez but Diego Carlos was on hand to clear from the line.

The second half was more of the same as Arsenal laid siege to the Villa goal and a series of switches from Villa boss Unai Emery had the desired effect in changing the dynamic of the game as Arsenal became more and more frustrated.

Kai Havertz did bundle the ball into the Villa net late on but a VAR review disallowed the effort with the German striker handling in the build-up.

Villa held strong to secure a morale boosting win and in doing so created club history recording a 15th straight home win.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa really are on fire!

Club record for Villa

Next up for Arsenal: Brighton at home

Next up for Villa: Brentford away

An excellent game as Villa continue to impress and now move to one point behind Arsenal and two behind leaders Liverpool.

All over and Villa win.

Rice finds Nketiah but the sub was always strtching and heads over.

This is last chance saloon for Arsenal now as we enter the 98th minute.

Villa press and McGinn is through but Raya saves well.

Five minutes to be added but it will be some more given the delay for the VAR check and now for the medical attention to Dibu.

Dibu Martinez is bleeding and will need attention.

No goal is the decision.

Play held up as VAR reviews the action.

The ball is in the Villa net....

the referee has ruled out the goal...possible handball.

Havertz did handle ... Cash handled too....

Final minute of normal time.

Villa hanging on but in a more composed manner.

Carlos yellow carded in the end.

Diego Carlos could be in trouble here as VAR may take a look at his lash out at Nketiah.

The impetus has gone from Arsenal and much of this is thanks to the Villa changes.

Villa now looking dangerous on the counter too but looking more comfortable at the back.

Final five of normal time and Trossard seems to have sustained an injury.

Arsenal change

Gabriel Jesus makes way for Nketiah

We're into the final ten minutes of the contest and there is absolutely no let-up in the intensity of the game.

The changes have helped Villa and the home side have started to control the ball again and Arsenal have been forced to defend in the past 10-15 minutes.

Villa change

Moreno on for Digne

Rice carded as he clips Cash.

Cash has a go from distance and just gets his angles wrong as the ball drifts past Raya's goal.

Into the final fifteen and still no way through for Arsenal.

Time ticking down at Villa Park.

McGinn carded as he tears into Odegaard.

A rough but fair challenge... free yes, card... harsh.

Odegaard leaves the shot for Rice but it's a poor hit from the England international and easy for Dibu.

Odegaard fouled on the edge of the box and Arsenal win a dangerous free.

Odegaard territory.

Trossard on for Martinelli.

Still now way through for Arsenal despite their total domination for the bulk of this game.

Watkins shoots and Raya saves as Villa make a rare attack on the Arsenal goal.

Changes for Villa

Cash and Dedoncker on

Konsa and Kamara making way

Douglas Luiz stamps on Saka's ankle and is carded.

The Brazilian too will miss the Brentford game for Villa.

Saka puts the ball in the net but the flag is up... the young Arsenal player was indeed inches offside.

Aston Villa are playing with fire now!

Diaby finds Digne on a rare Villa counter but the Frenchman drills the ball straight at Raya.

Surely a question of time before Arsenal get the goal they are looking for and indeed deserve as Villa have really forgotten how to play as they are unable to maintain possession.

Odegaard with a great chance to draw level but the Norwegian inexplicably drills the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

Villa on the ropes.

Dibu palms the ball off Watkins' back and the ball bounces on the Villa goal line and the Argentine grabs at the second time of asking.

One or two dubious goalkeeping moments form the Argentine stopper this afternoon.

Tielemans makes way form Ramsey.

Villa switch 

Sublime pass from Rice which finds White and Villa manages to clear the danger for a corner.

As things stand, Villa would stay in third position but sit two points behind leaders Liverpool.

What an impact Unai Emery has made at Villa Park.

Digne carded and the Frenchman will now miss Villa's next game (vs Brentford).

Ezri Konsa has been excellent for Villa today with the English defender one step ahead of the Arsenal strikers.

Arteta watching on from the VIP section of Villa Park.

A concerned look on the face of the Arsenal boss.

Martinelli gets tripped and goes down in some distress.

Arsenal medics will take a look at the Brazilian.

Arsenal have come out with the same intention as we saw for the bulk of the first half. 

Villa defenders with a busy 45 minutes ahead.

Possible spot kick for Arsenal as Luiz and Gabriel Jesus collide.

Outcome is no spot kick and a coherent decision.

Back underway at Villa Park.

Change for Villa as Bailey makes way for Diaby

Villa lead

An early goal from Villa captain Jack McGinn sees Unai Emery's men ahead at the interval.

Villa lead at the break

The side from Birmingham have been on the ropes for the bulk of the action having scored and opted to sit that bit deeper.

Diego Carlos saved Emery's side with a goal line clearance and Saka has gone close twice for the Gunners.

Jack McGinn's early goal the difference between the sides.

We'll have two minutes of time added on.

Gabriel Jesus shoots inside the box and all Martinez can do is parry the ball.

Arsenal really pressing the issue.

Villa and Emery will be desperate to hear the referee's whistle for the interval.

Villa have opened the scoring but done very little else ... granted they have defended well against an onslaught from the Londoners.

Havertz finds Odegaard and the Norwegian looks to pick his spot but Martinez does well and the Argentine anticipates well to save Villa.

Martinelli scoops the ball over Martinez's head and it needs a last gasp save off the line from Diego Carlos to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

Arsenal really pressing hard now and Villa hanging on.

Final ten minutes of the half.

Villa still ahead despite decent work from Arsenal who have dominated proceedings since the early Jack McGinn goal.

White feeds Odegaard and the Norwegian fires the ball into the side netting.

Arsenal knocking on the door now.

Saka strikes, again with the left foot but it's a tame effort and directed straight at Martinez in the Villa goal.

Ben White does well and threads a dangerous ball into the box but the flag was up.

Zinchenko is carded and is the first player booked this evening.

A clear pattern has developed with Arsenal playing all the football and Villa sitting deep and look to strike on the break.

Apart from the early chance that fell to Saka, Arsenal have not really troubled Martinez in the Villa goal.

Odegaard, White and Saka looking to create danger on the edge of the box but a misplaced pass from Rice sees the initiative break down and Villa break.

Poor from Villa as the wall does its job and Arsenal clear the danger.

Havertz is carded as he pulls down a rival player and the German is now suspended for the Gunners next game.

No false alarm ..no card for the striker. Villa do have a free though in a dangerous area.

Twenty minutes gone and Arsenal are very much the team in control now with Villa sitting deeper following the early goal from Jack McGinn.

Arsenal playing a patient game now as they look to stretch Villa and nail a killer through ball but at present, the side in claret and blue are alert to the Arsenal creativity.

Kamara gets clipped by Rice and the French man takes a while to get to his feet.

The Villa fans still making the bulk of the noise at Villa Park.

Saka gets into the box but sees his left footed effort blocked by Pau Torres.

Arsenal trailing in terms of possession and in the scoreboard with the early Jack McGinn strike the difference between the teams.

Arsenal now enjoying more possession as Villa sit a little deeper.

Declan Rice has yet to get into the swing of the action with so much of Arsenal's positive play emanating from the former West Ham man.

Villa Park is rocking now as the home fans are in raptures with the early Jack McGinn goal.

Things could have been so much different had Saka latched onto the Martinelli cross.

Captain McGinn puts the Villains ahead.

Great work from Bailey and a fine finish from the Villa No. 7 who swivels and strikes past Raya.

Great chance falls to Saka from a fine Martinelli delivery but the England international is unable to control and Villa fans breathe a sigh of relief.

Villa dominating early possession as Arsenal look to strike on the counter.

Mikel Arteta is not in the Arsenal dugout this evening with the Basque coach serving a three game touchline ban and forced to watch the action from the director's box.

The corner is poor and Arsenal avert the danger.

Early corner for the home side following good work from Bailey.

Off e go in Birmingham.

A reminder of the teams as we await the start of the action.

All set at Villa Park.

The home side in their classic claret and sky blue. Arsenal in their bright yellow and black jersey with black shorts.

The sides are in the tunnel.

The action is just moments away at a packed Villa Park with an electric atmosphere.

Villa-Arsenal: match official

Australian Jarred Gillett is in charge of the high profile Premier League clash at Villa Park. He will be assisted by:

Assistants: Darren Cann, James Mainwaring
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: Scott Ledger

Villa-Arsenal: matchday weather

It's an overcast December day in Birmingham with a fresh temperature of 9C-48F and the good news for match going fans is the absence of rain from the forecast.

Arsenal dressing room is ready

The Gunners have taken to the Villa Park pitch to undertake their pre-game warm up drill. 

Arsenal have had some wonderful shirts in recent times, this, however, is not one of them !

In the corresponding fixture at Villa Park last season, the Gunners ran out 2-4 winners bagging two late goals (a Martinez og and Martinelli strike)  to break the hearts of the home supporters.

Premier League results

These are the results from Saturday's action ... big win for Liverpool and home defeat for United

Villa XI

Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa side with less than an hour to go to kick-off at Villa Park.

Bailey, goal hero in the 1-0 over Man City leads the line with McGinn captain.

Team news: Arsenal

This is the starting XI for the Gunners today.

Arsenal appear to be using their bright yellow and black kit this evening.

Villa Park is ready

All set in the Midlands for the big Premier League clash of the weekend with 46,000 plus fans set to attend the Villa-Arsenal clash with just over an hour to go ahead of kick-off.

Villa-Arsenal, global start times

No matter where you are tuning in from around the world today, the Villa Twitter/X account has you covered with this handy world start time.

Both sides are in flying form!

How long can Arsenal keep winning games? That’s probably the question many soccer and Premier League fans have been asking themselves lately, as Mikel Arteta’s players have won their last six matches across all competitions and seem invincible in the league.

The Gunners are leading the standings with 36 points, four more than Aston Villa, and six more than the Premier League favorites Manchester City. Moreover, in the Champions League they advanced to the round of 16 and did it as the best Group B side.

However, the game vs. Aston Villa won’t be a walk in the park for Arsenal, as the hosts have proven that are one of the most solid teams in the league this campaign and recently defeated City at Villa Park. The Villans are a new team under Unai Emery’s guidance and they will do whatever it takes to keep recording good results and get closer to the first spot in the table.

Arsenal looking to reclaim top spot

Liverpool's earlier win over Crystal Palace in south London sees Jurgen Klopp's men move into top spot in the Premier League table with a one point lead over the Gunners. 

A win for the home side would see Unai Emery's men move to within one point of the men from North London. 

The Premier League title race (so far) this season is making for excellent entertainment.

Villa-Arsenal start time

The Premier League game action between Aston Villa and Arsenal will kick-off today at 12.30 p.m. ET / 9.30 a.m PT.

Hello and a warm welcome to our live Premier League coverage as Arsenal travel to Birmingham to face high flying Aston Villa at Villa Park.