BIRMINGHAM — Arsenal reinvigorated their push for a first Premier League title in two decades and retook top spot on Saturday with a thrilling 4-2 win at Aston Villa thanks to two late goals.
With a pulsating and high-quality game going into added time at 2-2, Arsenal midfielder Jorginho saw his shot come off the bar and bounce off the head of Villa's Argentina World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for a cruel own goal.
Emi Martinez own goal vs. Arsenal
THE GUNNERS ARE AHEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME!
It's an own goal by Emi Martinez as the ball ricochets off the crossbar onto Martinez's back and into the net.
: @USANetwork #MyPLMorning | #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/kkQWLHwkEr— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 18, 2023
Emi Martinez scores his 1st goal for Arsenal pic.twitter.com/RQLE3kJBpY
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) February 18, 2023
Minutes later, with the final whistle about to go and Villa piling forward - Martinez included - Arsenal broke forward again for Gabriel Martinelli to stroke into an empty net for the Londoners' fourth in front of their delirious fans.
The result put the Gunners back on top with 54 points after 23 games, three points above Manchester City who go to Nottingham Forest later on Saturday for their 24th match.
It was Arsenal's first win in four Premier League games and followed a dispiriting midweek loss at home to Manchester City.
"From this game, we took an unbelievable lesson for all of us. We just need to believe until the very end that we can achieve everything," said Oleksandr Zinchenko, who had made it 2-2 with his first goal for Arsenal earlier in the game.
Oleksandr Zinchenko scores his first ever Premier League goal to bring Arsenal level with Aston Villa!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 18, 2023
"This group are such amazing people. They can achieve everything they want if we continue this way, if we keep fighting, keep believing. The reaction from all of us in the second half was perfect."
At a packed and raucous Villa Park in the Midlands, Ollie Watkins had fired home the hosts' opener - and his fourth goal in as many games - in the fifth minute after a scintillating run into the box and jink past defender William Saliba.
What a finish by Ollie Watkins!
Arsenal are down after 5 minutes to Aston Villa.
: @USANetwork #MyPLMorning | #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/5rZEW4lyhn— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 18, 2023
Bukayo Saka struck back for Arsenal with a fine left foot drive from inside the area in the 16th minute, before Philippe Coutinho restored Villa's lead with a low shot in the 31st following a clever dummy from Emiliano Buendia.
Bukayo Saka blasts it into the back of the net to level the match!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 18, 2023
COUTINHO FOR THE LEAD!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 18, 2023
Zinchenko then levelled for Arsenal in the 62nd minute with a low drive past former Arsenal keeper Martinez.
Ahead of the thrilling finale both sides missed gilt-edged chances, Martin Odegaard pulling wide for Arsenal when he looked certain to score and Villa's Leon Bailey seeing a shot tipped onto the crossbar, before Arsenal struck to claim the points.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Ken Ferris)
