Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

Aston Villa beat Arsenal to set a new club record of 15 consecutive home league wins at a raucous Villa Park.

John McGinn netted the only goal of the game after seven minutes, smashing home in front of the Holte End as the hosts capitalised on a fast start.

The Gunners, who were the last side to beat Villa in B6 in the Premier League back in February, grew into the game and brought the best out of Emi Martínez.

An inspired display from the Argentine saw him deny Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Jesus among others to keep his fourth clean sheet in the top flight this term, with Kai Havertz seeing a late goal ruled out for a handball in the build-up.

Villa’s magnificent home run breaks the previous record, which was set in 1903 and the 1930-31 season.

Unai Emery picked an unchanged team from Wednesday’s 1-0 win against reigning champions Manchester City, and his charges quickly took the lead in B6.

Some quick passing in interplay released midweek matchwinner Leon Bailey down the right and he broke into the box before pulling a pass back to McGinn, who spun his marker and smashed a shot past David Raya to spark jubilant scenes around the ground.

Arsenal came into the weekend’s fixtures as league leaders but they were lacking fluency in the final third as they struggled to find the final ball on several promising attacking forays.

There were 32 minutes on the clock by the time Martínez was called into action by his former side, making a routine save from Saka’s shot.

The Gunners’ best spell of the game ensued and Diego Carlos had to be alert to clear Gabriel Martinelli’s effort after his fellow Brazilian had lobbed an onrushing Martinez.

Villa’s No.1 came to the rescue on 39 minutes when the visitors worked the ball quickly into the box and teed up Ødegaard, who found the ‘keeper equal to his effort as he tried to pick out the bottom corner.

Jesus was next to be denied by a fingertip stop from the Argentine as Arsenal finished the half the stronger of the two sides.

Moussa Diaby replaced a visibly hobbled Bailey at the break, while Jacob Ramsey came on for Youri Tielemans shortly after as Emery looked to quell the away side’s growing dominance.

And Villa were fortunate to clear their lines when Martínez and Ollie Watkins got mixed up at the near post from a corner, with the ball ricocheting against the frame of the goal before Carlos hacked it away.

Ødegaard spurned a golden chance before the hosts responded with an opportunity of their own as Lucas Digne smashed a shot down the throat of Raya.

A frenetic game then saw Saka race clear and round Martínez before tapping into an empty net – only for the offside flag to go up after the winger strayed a yard beyond the last man.

Villa were always a threat on the counter-attack and the speed of Diaby created a chance for Watkins, whose drilled effort was parried away by Raya.

As Mikel Arteta, who served a touchline ban, gave instructions from the stands, his side toiled and probed but looked to be running out of ideas heading into the final five minutes.

However, the north Londoners had the ball in the net in the final minute of normal time when Havertz bundled it home at the far post. Thankfully for the Villans, VAR intervened to confirm a handball by the German which had been spotted by referee Jarred Gillett. 

And the full-time whistle was greeted by a huge cheer from all four stands as supporters, staff and players came together to toast a magnificent achievement.