Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal: E.Martinez nets last-gasp OG, Gunners seal dramatic win

Jorginho strike deflects in off Emi Martinez as Gunners end winless run in stoppage time.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

6' GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (Ollie Watkins)

16' GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal (Saka)

19' CHANCE! Zinchenko's long shot saved

32' GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal (Coutinho)

45' Yellow Card! Saka booked

56' OFF THE BAR! Nketiah nearly scores

61' GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal (Zinchenko)

63' CHANCE! Nketiah's shot over the bar

77' Unbelievable! What a miss from Odegaard

83' OFF THE BAR! Bailey's shot nearly nets

93' OWN GOAL! Aston Villa 2-3 Arsenal (Martinez)

Match Report

Arsenal ended their winless run in dramatic fashion as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park and move top of the table at the final whistle.

The Gunners were level going into stoppage time but Jorginho's strike came back off the crossbar and deflected off Emiliano Martinez into the net to spark wild celebrations, before substitute Gabriel Martinelli capped the comeback with a fourth on the breakaway.

Villa led twice in the first half through Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho but Mikel Arteta's team showed their fighting spirit to level it twice through Bukayo Saka and then, just after the hour, through Oleksandr Zinchenko. But the drama was still to come.

Aaron Ramsdale tipped Leon Bailey's drive against the frame of the goal and Arsenal capitalised on that escape very late on. The result moved them three point clear at the top prior to Manchester City's game later in the afternoon - restoring belief in their title dream.

What's next?

Aston Villa's next outing is at home to Everton next Saturday; kick-off 3pm. Unai Emery's side then host Crystal Palace on Saturday March 4; kick-off 3pm.

Arsenal will now prepare for a trip to Leicester next Saturday; kick-off 3pm. Mikel Arteta's side then host Everton - who beat them 1-0 earlier this month - on Wednesday March 1; kick-off 7.45pm.

Line-ups

Aston Villa XI: Coutinho, E. Martinez, Álex Moreno, McGinn, Mings, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Douglas Luiz

Subs: Young, Traore, Digne, Dendoncker, Chambers, Bailey, Viljami Sinisalo, Jhon Durán, Jacob Ramsey

Arsenal XI: Xhaka, Trossard, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel, Ramsdale, Ben White, Nketiah, William Saliba, Saka

Subs: Tierney, Holding, Matt Turner, Tomiyasu, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Jakub Kiwior, Fábio Vieira