Arsenal 3-2 Villa: Auba's free-kick winner inspires comeback for 10-man Gunners

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent off for Arsenal but late goals from Calum Chambers and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave them all three points.

Match Report

A wonderful Pierre Emerick Aubameyang free kick saved ten man Arsenal from humiliation on Sunday afternoon as the Gunners saw off a plucky Aston Villa side to ease the pressure on boss Unai Emery.

John McGinn opened the scoring for the Villains in the first half after latching onto a teasing cross from Anwar El Ghazi to guide the ball past Bernd Leno. 

Arsenal were reduced to ten men before half time after Ainsley Maitland-Niles picked up his second yellow card for a late challenge on Neil Taylor.

The Gunners drew level through a Nicolas Pepe penalty after Matteo Guendouzi was brought down by Bjorn Engels.

 That goal was the Ivorian's first in an Arsenal shirt. However, Villa restored their lead moments later as Wesley got in front of David Luiz to prod home a fine Jack Grealish cross.

Callum Chambers dragged his side back into the game after capitalising on some poor defending to level the game before Aubameyang stepped up to fire home a wonderful free kick to give Arsenal all three points.

Match Events

20' GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Aston Villa (McGinn)

McGinn drifts into the Arsenal box totally unmarked and glances El Ghazi's cross into the bottom corner. A deft touch from the midfielder, with no Arsenal players anywhere near him.

41' Second Yellow Card! Maitland-Niles sent off

Maitland-Niles is shown a second yellow card and is given his marching orders by the referee. The right-back has to be helped off the pitch by the physio, after his challenge on Taylor.

59' Penalty Goal! Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa (Pepe)

Pepe converts from the penalty spot, scoring his first Arsenal goal. It's a terrific run by Guendouzi, he sprints into the box and Engels shoves him to the ground as the midfielder skips past him. 

60' GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa (Wesley)

Wesley with the finish to send the visitors ahead, just 90 seconds after Arsenal equalised. Grealish with a superb run into the Arsenal final third, he then picks out Wesley at the near post with a superb cross, who shows great composure to just get to the ball ahead of Leno and put the ball into the back of the net.

81' GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa (Chambers)

Chambers with a smart finish from close range to the level the scoreline. Guendouzi with a good cross into the box, it's half cleared by Villa, but there are just too many bodies in the box and Chambers gets to the ball first, poking it into the top corner of the net.

84' GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa (Aubameyang)

Terrific strike by Aubameyang, he steps up to take the free-kick, gets it up and over the Villa wall and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. Heaton didn't move! What a turnaround!

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