Aston Villa v Arsenal - as it happened
Join me at Villa Park for live coverage of this Premier League match.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
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96'FT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal. A huge win for the hosts sees them go 8th. Arsenal stay 10th.
Yellow card
a Arsenal
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94'Xhaka is booked for a foul on Grealish.
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90'5 minutes left for Arsenal to get an eqauliser.
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90'5 minutes added.
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89'Ramsey has a shot from outside the box that Ryan saves.
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89'Villa would go 4 points above Arsenal with two games in hand.
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88'Watkins' early strike is the only goal that separates things at the moment.
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86'Watkins has another shot that Ryan gets down and parries.
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84'Odegaard is passed the ball in the box but he fires over the bar. Great chance.
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83'Watkins has a shot from inside the box that goes inches wide. You can't get any closer than that.
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80'Gabriel has a weak effort from inside the box that is straight at the keeper.
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79'Ramsey has a shot from inside the box that Ryan parries.
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78'This could be a huge win for Aston Villa.
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77'Aston Villa sub: Barkley off for Ramsey.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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74'Arsenal sub: Thomas off for Willian.
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74'As time ticks on Villa will be happier with the scorerline.
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69'Pépé gets into the box but his shot is saved by the keeper.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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65'Aston Villa sub: Trezeguet on for Traoré.
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65'Arsenal sub: Odegaard on for Cedric.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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59'Arsenal sub: Lacazette off for Aubameyang.
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58'It looks like Aubameyang will be coming on.
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58'This has been a lot better from both sides.
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57'Saka has a shot that is blocked wide.
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56'Grealish has a shot from outside the box that Martínez gets down and saves.
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54'McGinn unleashes a shot from outside the box that Ryan gets down and parries.
Yellow card
a Arsenal
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52'Thomas is booked.
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52'Pépé tries to find the far corner with his left foot but it goes wide.
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52'Barkley has a shot from a tight angle that hits the side netting.
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50'Watkins also had a shot from the edge of the box that Ryan gets down and saves.
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50'The cross comes in but Watkins heads it straight at the keeper.
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48'Barkley has a shot that is straight at the keeper.
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46'And we're back.
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45'HT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal. The hosts go in at the break 1-0 up thanks to Watkins' early strike. They could have made it two but Traoré missed his effort. Xhaka has had the best chance for the Gunners.
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45'3 minutes added.
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44'Pépé drills a shot from inside and at the corner of the box but it goes wide.
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43'I wonder if we will see Odegaard today. He has only played 7 minutes for the Gunners so far.
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42'Just over 3 minutes left until the interval.
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38'Villa had a great chance to make it 2 but Dean SMith will be pleased to go in at the break 1-0 up.
Yellow card
a Aston Villa
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35'Nakamba is booked for a foul on Saka.
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34'This match has sprung into life now.
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33'The free-kick comes in but Holding heads it over the bar.
Yellow card
a Aston Villa
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31'Konsa is booked for bringing down Saka as he was breaking. It could have been red and Saka was last man.
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31'Traoré turns the defender brilliantly and is one on one with Ryan but he tries to chip him instead of slotting it in. Could chance to make it 2-0.
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29'Now we have a shot. Xhaka has a free-kick from about 30 yards out that Martínez has to dive and tip wide. Good shot and save.
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27'Pépé has a cross that is blocked and goes straight to Martínez. Does that count as a shot?
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27'Villa have a game in hand and if they won it (as things stand) then they would go 5th.
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25'Arsenal face a match against Leeds next week then have Benfica in the FA Cup. Villa have a winnable match against Brighton next week.
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23'If Arsneal lose this then they will be 9 points behind 4th (Liverpool). The Reds will also have a game in hand.
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22'There has literally been just one chance in this game and it has been the goal.
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19'Villa will be happy with the way things are going.
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15'It's gone a bit quiet lately.
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10'Villa won the last match 3-0 between these two.
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7'Just the one chance and Villa took it.
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5'So it takes Ryan just under 2 minutes to concede his first Arsenal goal. Not a good start.
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3'And Villa have taken an early lead. Cedric passes to no one so Traoré takes it and goes down the right. He crosses in for Watkins whose shot is deflected off Holding and past Ryan.
Goaaaaaal!
de Aston Villa en el 2'
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Statistics of Ollie Watkins in Premier League37140.38530
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2'WATKINS!!!!
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1'And the game starts.
Start of match
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PRVWVilla are having a decent season so far and a win will propel them back into contention for a European place. Arsenal really need the win after the defeat to Wolves.
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PRVWWhoever wins this match will go 8th.
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PRVWArsenal haven't won at Villa Park since 2015 and haven't beaten Villa since 2019.
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PRVWRyan is making his Arsenal debut here, coming in for the suspended Leno.
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PRVWArsenal XI: Ryan, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette.
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PRVWAston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, McGinn, Traore, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins.
Pre-match
06 February 2021, 13:30
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Stadium: Villa Park
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PRVWHello and welcome to Villa Park for this Premier League match. Team news to come.