Quick fire goals from Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud took Arsenal past Aston Villa despite a second half comeback led by Christian Benteke. Arsene Wenger's Gunners returned to the top of the Premier League and avenged their opening day defeat with victory here. Giroud nodded wide from Bacary Sagna's cross for Arsenal inside five minutes. Fabian Delph then scuffed his shot at the other end when Benteke nicked the ball off Wilshere. A long stoppage followed when Villa defender Nathan Baker took Serge Gnabry's shot full in the face, was knocked unconscious and required treatment before being stretchered off. Leandro Bacuna replaced him as the hosts changed to 4-4-2. This stop-start opening quarter drew to a close with Karim El Ahmadi screwing an improvised finish wide. Delph fed this midfielder runner after good work from home side front two Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Wenger's Gunners then struck twice in quick succession around ten minutes before half time. First Wilshere rolled past Brad Guzan from just inside the area after left back Nacho Monreal got down the left and cutback to him. Villa were caught cheaply in possession seconds after the restart. Delph lost out to Wilshere and the scorer turned provider for Giroud. Arsenal's French forward dragged the defender away and fired across Guzan to make it 2-0. Bacuna shot straight Wojciech Szczesny soon after the break and later Santi Cazorla did the same at the other end. Ashley Westwood also stung the palms of Szczesny as Villa showed more intent and further changes followed in the second half. Giroud fired off target for the Gunners and Paul Lambert threw on Andreas Weimann as the hosts went three up front, but it was Benteke who pulled one back with 15 minutes remaining. First the Belgian shanked wide, but gobbled up the next Villa chance. Benteke netted a diving back post header from Matthew Lowton's deep cross after Cazorla lost the ball near the far touchline for Arsenal. Delph then saw a low drive kept out by Szczesny and a grandstand finish followed. Gunners sub Tomas Rosicky had to come off himself late on, giving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the chance to complete his comeback from a knee injury. The visitors hung on for three points, however, with Szczesny saving a tame Benteke header. Yet another win for Arsenal keeps them in top spot. Lambert can take some pride from the second half response, but Villa's form of four points from the last 21 available is cause for concern.
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
