Villa beats Arsenal 1-0 thanks to goal after 74 seconds

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:00 AM CST Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 Last Modified: 9:02 AM CST Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021

Advertise with us

BIRMINGHAM, England - Aston Villa maintained its push for a finish in the European qualification positions by beating Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to a goal after 74 seconds by Ollie Watkins on Saturday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/02/2021 (2064 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BIRMINGHAM, England – Aston Villa maintained its push for a finish in the European qualification positions by beating Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to a goal after 74 seconds by Ollie Watkins on Saturday.

Bertrand Traore pounced on a loose pass by Cedric Soares and crossed to Watkins, whose first-time shot from a central position took a deflection off Rob Holding and squirmed into the net past Mat Ryan — an Arsenal debutant in goal.

Emi Martinez, a goalkeeper sold by Arsenal in the last off-season, preserved Villa’s win with several fine saves, notably from a free kick by Granit Xhaka that was heading into the top corner.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, scores his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. (Nick Potts, Pool via AP)

Villa moved into eighth place and only five points behind Liverpool, which came into the 23rd round of games in fourth place. Villa has a game in hand, too, after missing two fixtures early in the new year because of a coronavirus outbreak in the squad.

It was a second straight loss for mid-table Arsenal, which was beaten 2-1 by Wolverhampton on Tuesday when it also had goalkeeper Bernd Leno and defender David Luiz sent off.