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Aston Villa didn’t have a productive trip to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. Steven Gerrard’s club was outplayed in every measurable way as Arsenal remained perfect on the season with a 2-1 victory. But there was exactly one good moment for the visitors: a Douglas Luiz olimpico he foreshadowed on his Instagram page.
Brazilians Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli netted for the Gunners, who earned their fifth win from five games to remain atop the Premier League table. But it was another Brazilian who had the highlight of the day in North London.
On a rare foray forward after a shot was deemed to have deflected off Aaron Ramsdale’s fingertips to award a corner, the Villa’s first corner attempt was headed out for a second corner. On this attempt, Douglas Luiz went straight for goal.
Douglas Luiz Olimpico vs. Arsenal
AN OLIMPICO BY DOUGLAS LUIZ!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2022
Ramsdale, legally blocked off by Boubacar Kamara, was nowhere near the ball and completely helpless as the corner kick sailed into the back of his net.
If Ramsdale and the Arsenal coaching staff had been paying attention to Instagram, they’d have known this Douglas Luiz olimpico was coming. In a joint post with the Aston Villa account, the Brazilian posted video of him scoring one in training a week earlier.
View this post on Instagram
Hilariously, the most-liked comment on the post was from an account named “birdyyyyy” saying sarcastically “Now everyone in the prem can watch and see how we set up.” Well, if Mikel Arteta saw how Aston Villa sets up, he didn’t do anything about.
Alas for Gerrard’s men, Martinelli scored three minutes after his compatriot’s goal to give the Gunners the 2-1 victory.
Gabriel Martinelli with the IMMEDIATE response!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2022
Arsenal racked up 22 shots (nine on target) and held a 2.62-0.38 advantage in expected goals, fully deserving the win. But knowing from All Or Nothing how much Ramsdale hates losing a clean sheet, he’ll be lamenting that Douglas Luiz olimpico for a long time.
