Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

This is Arsenal's best spell. Remember, the Gunners also fell behind away to Luton in midweek and soaked up some intense pressure before turning things around late on.

There is a very long way to go here and you can already feel nerves beginning to ripple around Villa Park.

Ooooh, a let off for Villa.

Gabriel Martinelli beats the offside trap - perhaps - clips the ball over Emi Martinez but Diego Carlos is aware enough to race back and clear.

On reflection, I suspect Martinelli was offside.

Smart effort from Martin Odegaard. He's a lovely player to watch, isn't he?

The Norwegian lets a ball from Bukayo Saka run across him, takes a delightful touch to set himself and powers a low shot inches past the post.

Image source, Getty Images

Routine saves at either end for Emi Martinez and David Raya to make.

First Martinez stops a curler from Saka, who is found by Declan Rice after he dispossesses John McGinn.

Sloppiness for the first time tonight by Villa.

Then Ollie Watkins, whose movement is always a danger, has a pop after holding off William Saliba.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Emiliano Martinez has just had his first warning for time-wasting...

Hang on Ryan, calm down. A loooong way to go in this one.

Arsenal are just starting to find their rhythm a little more. The passes are crisper and the movement sharper.

Play is spread out to the right flank where Ben White is bombing forward, but the Arsenal full-back has gone a tad too quick.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Zinchenko has got to be careful now.

Aston Villa should be looking at getting Bailey on the ball running at him.

Image source, Getty Images

Cynical. No doubt that Oleksandr Zinchenko will see yellow.

The Arsenal left-back hauls back Youri Tielemans by the shirt and is booked as a result by ref Jarred Gillett.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Declan Rice gave the ball and it was great reaction. Straight away he was on top of it trying to win it back.

Villa can't clear the ball fully but are given a freebie when Declan Rice carelessly passes straight to one of their defenders in the home box.

This is more like the Arsenal we have watched over the past 18 months.

Bukayo Saka times a run perfectly to beat the Villa offside trap - which is usually more successful than a rat trap - to round Emi Martinez.

The angle is too tight though and Villa clear the attempted pullback.

Arsenal survive what could have been a dangerous situation. Then they go on the attack...

No chance anyone other than the left-footed Lucas Digne is having this one.

The Villa full-back has a crack but the Arsenal wall does its job to the letter.

Douglas Luiz pounces on the follow-up and that is also blocked.

Youri Tielemans is starting to look like the player who Villa fans thought they were getting.

The Belgian is hauled down by Kai Havertz and that gives Villa a free-kick in a very dangerous position.

About 25 yards out, just off right of centre.

Lucas Digne licks his lips....

As well as Unai Emery having a point to prove, Emi Martinez will particularly want to get one over on the Gunners.

The Villa keeper has not been stretched yet, but has seen plenty of the ball at his feet.

Martinez is, ahem, serenaded as Villa fans taunt Arsenal as to why he left them.