MX23RW : Friday, November 8 07:23:43| >> :120:30941:30941:
[monks data]
Aston Villa logo
Premier League
Jan 13, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

1-2

Benteke (76')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Wilshere (34'), Giroud (35')

Arsenal go top with win over Aston Villa

Arsenal move back to the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Arsenal have moved back to the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

The Gunners almost took the lead after just five minutes when Bacary Sagna whipped a fine delivery into the box that Olivier Giroud flicked just wide of the far post.

Fabian Delph of Aston Villa tackles Serge Gnabry of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on January 13, 2014© Getty Images

The hosts' first chance fell to Fabian Delph in the 13th minute, but he could only drag his low shot past the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Villa then squandered another chance to take the lead midway through the first half as Karim El Ahmadi ghosted into the box but put his effort over the bar.

Jack Wilshere of Arsenal ceelbrates scoring the opening goal with Serge Gnabry of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match on January 13, 2014© Getty Images

Arsenal broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Jack Wilshere controlled Nacho Monreal's pass on the edge of the box before firing a low effort past Brad Guzan and into the bottom corner.

The Gunners made it 2-0 immediately afterwards, Wilshere this time providing the pass to set up Giroud, who found the same corner just 17 seconds after the match had restarted.

Olivier Giroud of Arsenal scores their second goal past Brad Guzan of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match on January 13, 2014© Getty Images

The visitors' tested Guzan again on the hour mark when Santi Cazorla hit a low effort towards the corner, but the American got down well to make the save.

Villa then produced a rare threat to Wojciech Szczesny's goal as Christian Benteke showed good strength to compete with a couple of Arsenal defenders before firing an effort just past the post.

He wouldn't have to wait much longer to end his goal drought, however, as he scored with a diving header when left unmarked at the back post two minutes later to haul his side back into the contest.

Benteke caused problems again in the closing stages as he won another header in the box, but this time he could only nod straight at Szczesny as Arsenal held out for the victory.

ID:130224: cacheID:130224:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5585:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Olivier Giroud of Arsenal scores their second goal past Brad Guzan of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match on January 13, 2014
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Arsenal in control over Villa
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!