ARSENAL returned to the top of the Premier League table after a 4-2 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park today.
The Gunners were 2-1 behind at half-time but scored two goals in stoppage time to claim the crucial win and climb back to the summit.
Hosts Villa went in front through Olli Watkins after just minutes, the striker netting after beating William Saliba following a breakaway.
Arsenal were level 11 minutes later as Tyrone Mings cleared Eddie Nketiah’s shot onto the bar, only for Bukayo Saka to fire a powerful shot into the roof of the net from inside the box for his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
Villa were back in front in the 31st minute when Philippe Coutinho netted with a composed finish after a brilliant team move.
Arsenal equalised again one minute past the hour mark, Oleksandr Zinchenko netting with a shot from the edge of the box.
The Gunners pressed for the winning goal and were clearly the more positive side but they needed a bit of luck to take the lead.
Jorginho took a long-range effort that crashed off the crossbar in the third minute of stoppage time but Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez inadvertently scored an own goal with the back of his head while diving to make a save.
Arsenal then sealed their first win in five matches in all competitions when Gabriel Martinelli slotted into an empty net after Martinez had left his post for the Arsenal box during a last-ditch corner kick.
Mikel Arteta’s side had dropped to second spot after their 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday, but they are back on top, three points ahead of the champions, who face Nottingham Forest today.
