Ollie Watkins stunned Arsenal at the Emirates stadium with two goals as Aston Villa rose to sixth in the Premier League.
The visitors came into the game off the back of back-to-back defeats at the hands of Leeds and Southampton respectively – marring their famous 7-2 victory over league champions Liverpool.
Dean Smith’s side showed that that day was not a one-off though, by putting a hapless Arsenal side to the sword and cruising to a 3-0 triumph.
Arsenal failed to build upon their impressive 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend, their first league win at the ground since 2006.
John McGinn looked as though he had given the visitors the perfect start, hammering a left-footed strike into the roof of the net past a helpless Bernd Leno just 46 seconds into the encounter.
The referee looked to VAR however, where it was concluded that Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley had impeded the goalkeeper’s vision from an offside position, and the goal was ruled out.
McGinn then carelessly presented the hosts with a chance to take the lead, as summer signing Thomas Partey raced onto the Scotsman’s loose back pass, only for Emiliano Martinez to smother the Ghanaian’s effort.
Arsenal failed to sure things up at the back however, with a patiently crafted move on the edge of the Gunners’ box leading to Bukayo Saka steering a low Matt Targett cross into his own net.
Alexandre Lacazette had an excellent chance to take his team into the break level but headed Kieran Tierney’s cross over the bar from just seven yards out.
Arsenal’s misfortune did not end there, as manager Mikel Arteta was forced to take off Partey at half-time, due to a thigh complaint.
Spaniard Dani Ceballos came on in his place, looking to up the tempo on a rather flat-footed Arsenal performance.
Villa came out of the dressing room for the second half much like how they had come out for the first, as Villa captain Jack Grealish forced Leno into a save from an acute angle.
Arteta looked to add impetus to his attack, bringing on academy graduate Eddie Nketiah for Lacazette, and club-record signing Nicolas Pepe for Willian.
Pepe, coming off a goal and assist in the Europa League midweek, sent an effort whistling past the post, as Arsenal continued to trouble their former goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s momentum was stopped after a sublime Douglas Luiz pass picked out the boot of Ross Barkley, who sent a first time cross towards Watkins for the former Brentford striker to nod in from close range.
Watkins helped himself to a second, calmly tucking the ball past Leno after a smart bit of play from Grealish.
With an international break looming, Arteta will have to look to the drawing board to see how he can get his Gunners firing again.
By Jack Brazil
