Quick-fire Gunners back on top

ASTON VILLA 1 ARSENAL 2
By Ricky Butler at Villa Park

Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring the opening goal at Villa park last night with Serge Gnabry

TWO goals in a minute from Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud midway through the first half were enough to send Arsenal back to the top of the Barclays Premier League last night despite a strong late rally from Aston Villa.

Arsene Wenger's side had initially found Villa's five-man defence difficult to break down, but an early head injury to Nathan Baker, when he felt the full force of a Serge Gnabry pile-driver, resulted in Paul Lambert reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation and that proved decisive.

Wilshere finished a fine 34th minute move involving Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal before the Englishman then created the second for Giroud seconds after the restart.

Villa upped their intensity in the second half and were rewarded 14 minutes from time when Christian Benteke headed home a Matt Lowton cross, but Arsenal held on to move back to the top.

Wenger said: "We had to have a strong response because everyone was looking at us to see if we would drop points after everyone else had won over the weekend.

"You are under a bit more pressure when you play last because you know you are not allowed to drop any points.

"The only way you can give an answer to that is to win the games and we have here."

The north-Londoners arrived at Villa Park having seen all their title rivals win over the weekend so this became a vital match for Wenger's side. But this has proved to be a happy hunting ground for them in recent years with their last defeat here coming way back in December 1998.

With Mikel Arteta missing with a calf problem, Wenger brought back Mesut Ozil, with Mathieu Flamini playing the holding role in front of the back four. Meanwhile Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was named among the substitutes for the first time since picking up an injury in the opening day defeat to Villa.

Despite dominating the early possession, Arsenal was unable to create many clear-cut opportunities. Giroud twice flashed a headers wide of Guzan's right-hand upright but the best of the early chances fell to the hosts.

A poor touch from Wilshere on the edge of his own penalty area allowed Fabian Delph the opportunity to fire wide before Karim El Ahmadi shot over following a quick Villa counter-attack.

But the injury to Baker, and the subsequent reorganisation at the back, gave Arsenal a chance which they took advantage of in emphatic fashion.

The opening goal was superbly worked. Ozil sent Monreal clear down the left and his pull back was perfect for Wilshere, who took one touch to control and the other to pass the ball into the corner of the net.

Then straight from the restart, Wilshere nicked the ball from Delph before finding Giroud in the area. The Frenchman's first touch was true and while his second bounced off his knee, it set up perfectly to sweep past Guzan from 10 yards.

Olivier Giroud makes it 2-0

Wenger's side was now in complete control although their intensity dropped significantly in the second half. Tomas Rosicky replaced Gnabry before a stray elbow from Gabby Agbonlahor ended his involvement, giving Oxlade-Chamberlain his long-awaited return.

But by then Villa had pulled a goal back. Cazorla lost possession cheaply out on the left touchline and Lowton's superb delivery was met with a diving header by Benteke, his fist goal since mid-September.

Suddenly Villa Park sensed a comeback but this Arsenal side can dig in when they have to. Having had a comfortable evening up until that point, Per Mertersacker and Laurent Koscielny really came into their own in the closing stages and Arsenal was able to hold on for a vital three points.

Wenger said: "We had two halves I think. One about playing, the second about fighting. We were maybe a little too cautious in the second half and wanted to just keep the score.

"Our defence kept us through that difficult period. I am very pleased that when we are under pressure we can respond.

"Olivier needed a goal but I believe that for the team, if you want to do well, your centre forward needs to score goals.

"It is really important to win these types of games. Villa was really up for this game and they prepared well for it. You have to give them credit, they had a go until the end."

With potentially winnable games coming up against Fulham, Southampton and Crystal Palace, Arsenal now have a great opportunity to cement their position at the top going into February and beyond.

ASTON VILLA - Guzan, Lowton, Baker (Bacuna 21), Vlaar, Luna, El Almadi (Weimann 73), Clark, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscielny, Monreal (Gibbs 66), Flamini, Wilshere, Gnabry (Rosicky 69), (Oxlade-Chamberlain 86), Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud.

REFEREE - N. Swarbrick

MAN OF MATCH - Wilshere (Arsenal) - Scored one and made one. So much more effective in a central role.

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