Plus: Manchester United show their weak mentality again, Max Kilman stars for West Ham & Ollie Watkins has a rare wasteful day in front of goal
The Sky Sports football writers analyse Saturday’s action in the Premier League as Erling Haaland continues to defy logic and Leandro Trossard comes up big
Leandro Trossard continues to pop up at key moments for Arsenal. The Belgian scored a string of vital goals in big games last season, including against Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Porto and Bayern Munich. Now he has another
Thomas Partey’s long-range strike for Arsenal’s second goal at Villa Park ensured Trossard’s opener was not their winner, per se. But it was certainly the one that changed the game. Arsenal had been on the ropes. The momentum shifted with that swing of his right boot.
First-time finishes have long been his trademark. But this, with his very first touch of the game, only moments after replacing Gabriel Martinelli, took his efficiency to another level.
It was his 18th goal for the Gunners since the start of last season and, having been named only as a substitute in Arsenal’s first two games of the season, it should ensure he is in the starting line-up when they host Brighton next weekend. They might not be going into that game on the back of a win if it wasn’t for him.
Ollie Watkins ultimately provided the killer blow to Arsenal’s title chances last season, when he scored the second in a 2-0 win for Villa at the Emirates in April. Now, he helped spark a life into the Gunners’ new title bid.
David Raya will take the plaudits for his second half wonder save but Watkins should have really put Villa ahead in both halves.
