Dean Ashton has shared what ‘really impressed’ him about Arsenal’s win at Aston Villa this Saturday. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners came from behind twice to secure a 4-2 win on the road.
Aston Villa led Arsenal early on through Ollie Watkins (5’) as the striker drilled home after a quick counter-attack. Unai Emery’s Villans hit the north Londoners after Ben White left William Saliba vulnerable. While Philippe Coutinho (31’) would reinstate his team’s lead.
Bukayo Saka (16’) had drawn Arsenal level in Birmingham with a powerful hit into the roof of the net. But Coutinho put Aston Villa back ahead to cap off a nice move down the wing. Oleksandr Zinchenko (61’) would later peg the home team back from the edge of the area.
It seemed as if the match would end even at 2-2 until Jorginho took aim in stoppage-time. The £12m January signing from Chelsea unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the box that ricocheted back off the crossbar and in off Emiliano Martinez (90’+3) for an own goal.
Martinez then let Arsenal put the finishing touches on their win as he ventured upfront for a late corner. The goalkeeper opted to enter the opposition area but the Villans could not make use of the set-piece. It left Gabriel Martinelli (90’+8) with an empty net to tap home.
Arsenal impressed Ashton by not collapsing in the second half at Aston Villa
Arsenal digging in deep to come from behind twice and win away at Aston Villa impressed Ashton. The former West Ham United and England striker especially admired how Arteta’s side did not collapse whilst 2-1 behind or rush into any mistakes in trying to take the lead.
“I don’t think you can measure how important that was for this Arsenal squad,” Ashton told talkSPORT (18/02, 14:32). “I think it’s monumental for them. What really impressed me was the patience they showed in that second-half. They were by far the better team.
“So dominant and they missed some gilt-edged chances to win the game. It would have been so easy for them to shrug their shoulders and give up but they didn’t. They were relentless with their pressure and, eventually, they got that bit of luck they needed.”
Aston Villa enjoyed an electric start to move ahead of Arsenal early on. But Arteta’s squad kept their cool to stay in the game when 2-1 down. The Gunners would also end the match having penned 20 shots to Villa’s seven, per WhoScored, but with just five on target each.
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