Arsenal fought back to beat Aston Villa 4-2 on Saturday and return to the top of the Premier League table. Villa held the lead until the 60th minute of Saturday’s game, but the Gunners added two goals in added time to take all three points.
Ollie Watkins put the hosts in front early in the game. The striker scored his seventh top-flight goal of the season in the sixth minute. However, Arsenal leveled the score just 10 minutes later thanks to a superb goal from Bukayo Saka. Villa then took a lead before half time through a Philippe Coutinho goal.
Gunners score 3 goals in the second half to take the points
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko equalized the score once more in the 61st minute. It was the left-back’s first Premier League goal in 92 total appearances. Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez gave his former club the lead in stoppage time thanks to an own goal.
Jorginho fired a ferocious shot from long range that shattered the crossbar and hit the World Cup winner’s head before landing in the back of the net. Gabriel Martinelli added the fourth goal with essentially the last shot of the game five minutes later.
Jorginho and Zinchenko hail fight in comeback win
After the exciting game, new signing Jorginho realized how vital victory was for the club. “It was very important after the last results we had,” the midfielder told BT Sport. “The beginning was not easy when we were not producing our game. We came in at half time, had a chat and then went back to doing the basics we had to do and changed the game.”
The goalscorer Zinchenko also applauded his team’s desire not to give up. “From this game I would like to say two things: First, we learned an incredible lesson for all of us that we must believe until the end,” said the defender.
“As I have said in the past, this group has amazing people. [We] we can achieve everything we want if we will keep fighting and keep believing. The reaction from all of us in the second half is a perfect way to do it.”
The win halts a miniature Gunners skid. Arsenal failed to win any of their previous three league games.
However, they now surpass Manchester City at the top of the table. The reigning Premier League champions can return to the front with a result against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. However, City will have played one more game against Arsenal.
Photo credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
