Aston Villa vs Arsenal - Premier League LIVE: Bukayo Saka's goal proves the difference as champions secure victory at Villa Park - ahead of Sunday's showdown with rivals Chelsea

Right, I've said my positive take on Aston Villa; now it's time for me to lay into them...

I'm kidding, I'm kidding. However, the stats ain't exactly great.

While Villa had their moments going forward today, they created almost next to nothing. In fact, they didn't even have a shot on target.

Villa are now just the second team on record since 2003-04 to fail to have a shot on target in their first two Premier League games in a season, along with Swansea in 2017-18.

That's an awful stat. But wait, there's more.

Villa are also the first team to finish in the top four of the top flight (4th in 2025-26) and then lose their first two games of the following season without scoring since QPR in 1976-77.

What is it about Aston Villa and poor starts?

It took them six games to get their first points of the season last term, and now they have lost their first two Premier League games of this campaign.

It almost feels like the same old story.

Luckily, they managed to get out of their rut last season and go on a crazy winning run in the Premier League that saw them end up as potential title contenders.

And, well, after watching them tonight, I'm pretty sure they will get out of this rut, too. Maybe they won't be title contenders, but they will be OK.

There was plenty to be positive about in that performance. They restricted Arsenal a lot, as Bukayo Saka said, and were very solid at the back.

And if they were against any other team, I reckon they would have caused more problems going forward. They looked lively, just couldn't produce that something special at the end of the move.

But anyway, much better than last week from Villa.

Thierry Henry, former Arsenal striker, on Sky Sports:

Bukayo Saka is right; one goal is normal enough.

With the back four they have, and of course, David raya in net, Arsenal very rarely concede. That's already three clean sheets from three games in all competitions this season.

In fact, tonight was David Raya's 50th Premier League clean sheet for Arsenal in 109 appearances. That's a crazy number, a clean sheet per game ratio just shy of 50 per cent.

Since joining Arsenal in 2023-24, Raya has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper across Europe's big-five leagues.

They are pretty damn impenetrable.

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal goalscorer, on Sky Sports:

On how the full-backs helped with the goal:

On their work without the ball:

On how many goals he wants this season:

Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports:

Oh, go on then... let's watch the winner.

Arsenal weren't at their free-flowing best going forward tonight, but that one time they turned it on, boy did they turn it on.

Brilliant from Eberechi Eze, even more brilliant from Riccardo Calafiori, and then of course, brilliant from Bukayo Saka.

A lovely goal.

Is it just me, or does Bukayo Saka look back to his best?

We all know that Saka didn't have the best of seasons last campaign. Yes, I know Arsenal won the league, but I'd even say that it was Saka's worst season in a Gunners shirt since his initial breakthrough.

Sounds crazy, but he was miles off the form we are used to seeing from him, and that showed in the stats.

But after being managed well during the World Cup and a little summer break, it seems like the lad is refreshed and rid of his injury problems.

He has made a lightning-fast start to the season, scoring against Coventry, and then, of course, scoring the winner tonight.

It's good to see him playing with confidence again.

Gary Neville, former Man United defender, on Sky Sports:

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Arsenal are champions.

Many of you may look at the scoreline and think, well, that's not that impressive of a win. But trust me, it is.

This Gunners side are just so, so difficult to beat. They only ever need to take that one chance because they are just so good at the back.

Once Bukayo Saka scored that goal, you knew it was game over. Asypn Villa never looked like penetrating that rock-solid back four, and well, they didn't even come close in the end.

It's the perfect start to the campaign for Arsenal and they show once again why they are the team to beat.

A big scalp away from home.

Classic Arsenal.

The Gunners do what they do best: score a goal and keep a clean sheet. That's why the chant '1-0 to the Arsenal' is so famous.

John McGinn wanted a penalty right at the death there, but number one, it was outside the box, and number two, I'm not sure it was a foul.

It's another defeat for Aston Villa, but this is one they can actually take some positives from.

And for Arsenal, it's two wins from two. The perfect start.

Yep, it's over.

David Raya has the ball in hand and Aston Villa have just one minutes to get it off Arsenal and score.

Ain't happening, sorry.