Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal: Early goals boost Gunners atop the table

Arsenal enjoyed an easy 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Sunday to soar to the summit of the Premier League and leave their hapless opponents rooted at rock bottom.

Arsenal reached the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday by winning 3-0 at Olympiakos, Olivier Giroud scoring all three goals, and the Frenchman set the London side on their way against Villa with an early penalty.

The man who signed Garde for Arsenal, Wenger, believes Villa can survive despite being eight points adrift of safety, but there was none of that generosity on the pitch. It will be an interesting one but we at least can recover first and prepare then.

The fact that a beaten and bruised Arsenal is learning to win tough games that they would have lost just past year is a huge testament to the quality that this team is starting to find.

Giroud’s opener, calmly stroked home from the penalty spot in the eighth minute, was his 11th goal in 13 games and 16th of the season.

Wenger said to Arsenal Player, “I’m very proud and happy of the spirit we show”. That’s where I think my best position is, that’s where I feel comfortable. He says when you get the ball be positive and attack players. He may not have electric pace and he likes to play with his back to goal, so maybe he isn’t a spectacular individual.

“But he’s a very efficient and important player for the team, and he’s mentally very strong”. “But overall for us it was a great week”, said Wenger who heaped special praise on Arsenal’s second goal and Ozil’s contribution.

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde was refreshingly honest in admitting to BBC Sport that Arsenal were the better side and fully deserved their win, but rued the manner in which his side fell apart in the first half.

And while Giroud’s display here was not as emphatic as the one he delivered in Athens, there was still a rising to the occasion, an all-round contribution punctuated by Giroud’s 50th Premier League goal for Arsenal since he joined them three years ago.

The defeat means Spurs stay fifth on 26 points, missing the chance to move into the top four ahead of Manchester United who suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Ramsey’s sternest test will come on Monday evening against Manchester City in what will be a crucial game to the title race and Arsenal’s chances of success.

He said: “We can still be safe but we are coming into a period where we have to win”. I see that as an opportunity, not a problem. “I know that in football you can change things with work and concentration”.

‘Mostly its been collective, but he does pull players and I’ve been in there and he’s talked about my positives and what he wants me to do.