ARSENAL saved Aston Villa from bogey as Mikel Arteta ticked off a key task from his title-winning to-do list.

Supersub Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score with his first touch and also had a hand in the Gunners’ second goal, which was expertly finished off by Thomas Partey.

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But a special mention must be made of David Raya who made a world-class save to prevent Ollie Watkins from putting Villa ahead two minutes before Trossard struck.

If the Gunners want to improve on the previous two seasons and finally beat Manchester City, then this was a game they absolutely had to win.

No team damaged Arsenal’s title hopes more last season than Unai Emery’s Villa, who took six of the Gunners’ six points.

That was a whopping 40% of all points Arteta’s men dropped last season.

After just two games, Arteta has already knocked a monkey off his back!

The Gunners manager bolstered his defence by handing Jurrien Timber his second Premier League start and first since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in August last year.

Emery, on the other hand, suffered a hamstring injury to Matty Cash when he tried to stop a cross from Gabriel Martinelli after 13 minutes.

That forced Villa to make an early substitution, with 18-year-old Serbian Kosta Nedeljkovic facing a tough test of nerves.

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Emi Martinez had already made an early save by stopping Declan Rice’s shot after he had turned a deep cross from Saka towards the midfielder.

But the Argentine world champion showed why Villa fans call him the world number one with a world class save after 16 minutes.

Saka cut through Lucas Digne and curled the ball low with his left foot, which flew into the far corner before Martinez rushed down his right and brilliantly fired the ball wide.

However, the keeper was lucky moments later when he collapsed in the penalty area after Kai Havertz hit the crossbar after a corner.

Referee Michael Oliver blew for a foul, but it was certainly not Martinez’s fault.

Ollie Watkins didn’t touch the ball once in the opening 20 minutes but was kept in check superbly by William Saliba.

But when he scored his first goal midway through the first half, he squandered it and Villa missed a golden opportunity.

Leon Bailey took the ball from Gabriel and Morgan Rogers gave Watkins a perfect pass.

But in front of England manager Lee Carsley, the Euro 24 England hero fired his shot wide from 10 yards, putting a goal within reach.

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It was the kind of ending Watkins would have liked to bury last season, but it’s clear he hasn’t cleared away all the cobwebs after his extended summer break.

Thomas Partey was similarly sloppy when he fired a 25-yarder well before the game finally got going – thanks to a combative Scot!

John McGinn took offence at Saliba taking down Watkins at the corner flag and fired the loose ball into the Frenchman’s midriff.

As Saliba lined up opposite him, Ben White knocked the ball off McGinn and a scuffle suddenly broke out between at least a dozen squabbling players.

Michael Oliver warned the offenders but Villa were now on a roll and Raya dived to his left to keep Rogers off the ball, then collected an effort from Bailey to fire the ball just under the bar.

Rice was booked for a foul on Rogers and Arteta was told off for complaining for too long. The break was a chance for everyone to calm down.

Villa returned with a determination to up the tempo and Arsenal were able to stay in the game thanks to David Raya on 54 minutes.

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Amadou Onana shot the ball towards Gabriel, but the ball went over Raya and bounced off the crossbar and back into play.

With the keeper on the ground, Watkins went for the attack and headed the ball into the empty net with a diving header.

But somehow Raya managed to get back up and reclaim the ball, preventing a goal with a world-class intervention.

It turned out to be the turning point in the match.

Emery replaced Watkins and McGinn with Jhon Duran and Jacob Ramsey, while Arteta brought on Leandro Trossard in place of Martinelli.

But it was Arteta’s change that made the difference!

Within two minutes the Belgian put Arsenal ahead and 10 minutes later he had a hand in the second goal!

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The winger made an immediate impression when he scored with his first touch of the ball.

Saka did well to keep the ball in play and played the ball back from the byline, the ball ending up in the direction of Trossard via Rogers.

The Belgian didn’t even need a touch as he fired the ball with his right foot and fired it low past Martinez into the far corner.

Ten minutes later he ensured that Villa decided the match.

Trossard provided a low cross that went across the goal to Saka over the far post.

The winger passed the ball back to Thomas Partey, who used Pau Torres as a screen to fire the ball home.

Although Martinez got the ball to the keeper with his glove, he didn’t see it until late and for the first time his hand simply wasn’t strong enough to stop the ball.

Like his shot, Arsenal will be difficult to stop in this form.

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