Arsenal made it two wins from two as Bukayo Saka’s second-half goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Saka struck in the 59th minute, finishing from close range after a clever move involving Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to break down a stubborn Villa side. The hosts’ best chance came when Emi Buendia hit the crossbar, while Villa failed to register a shot on target for the second game running.
Mikel Arteta was delighted with the result, calling it a “massive win” and praising his squad’s performance. New signings Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa also made their Premier League debuts for Arsenal.
The champions now have six points from two games — a perfect start to their title defence.
Not spectacular, but Arsenal are already showing they know how to win ugly.
