Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late free-kick handed 10-man Arsenal a 3-2 Premier League win over Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners threw away a two-goal lead to draw with Watford last weekend and looked like they would be on the end of another disappointing result when John McGinn scored for Villa after 20 minutes.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent off for the hosts shortly before the break, but Nicolas Pepe’s first goal for the club – from the penalty spot – pulled them level after 59 minutes.
Parity lasted for only a minute as Wesley’s close-range finish restored Villa’s lead, but Calum Chambers and Aubameyang struck in the final 10 minutes to move Unai Emery’s side up to fourth in the Premier League.
The outstanding McGinn gave Villa a shock lead, ghosting past a static backline to steer Anwar El Ghazi’s cross home with a deft flick.
Arsenal suffered a blow four minutes before the interval when Maitland-Niles received a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Neil Taylor.
They were handed a lifeline in the 59th minute, though, when Bjorn Engels clumsily brought down Matteo Guendouzi, allowing Pepe to open his account for the club from the spot.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as Villa went 2-1 up within a minute. Jack Grealish did wonderfully to power into the Arsenal area and pick out Wesley, who got in front of his marker to coolly slot past Bernd Leno for his second goal for the club.
Guendouzi thumped a long-range effort against the post before Chambers pulled Arsenal level for a second time in the 81st minute with a close-range finish.
That was followed three minutes later by Aubameyang’s dramatic winner, the striker superbly whipping into Tom Heaton’s left-hand corner from 20 yards to relieve the pressure on Emery.
Source: Omnisport
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