Arsenal enjoyed a triumphant evening at Villa Park on Saturday, delivering a performance that helped to soothe some of the lingering frustrations from their previous encounters with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
Under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal showcased qualities reminiscent of a team capable of challenging for the Premier League title, even if their display wasn’t flawless.
While Arsenal remains cautious about overconfidence—given their history of strong starts over the past couple of seasons—this victory is still a significant one.
Last season, the Gunners couldn’t secure a single point against Emery’s Villa, but this time around, they secured all three points, with much credit going to Leandro Trossard, who made a significant impact after coming off the bench.
However, Trossard was quick to deflect the praise towards goalkeeper David Raya, who played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s win by making several crucial saves.
One particular save left commentator Gary Neville in awe and is likely to be remembered fondly by Arsenal supporters for a long time. Raya’s performance between the posts was instrumental in maintaining Arsenal’s lead and ultimately securing the victory.
Amid the celebrations, Arsenal fans also found themselves thinking about a player who wasn’t even on the pitch—Emile Smith Rowe, a former Gunner who remains beloved by the club’s faithful. Smith Rowe, who left Arsenal this summer, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of the supporters.
Over the weekend, Smith Rowe made headlines by scoring his first official goal for Fulham in their 2-1 victory over Leicester City. Although he had previously found the net during pre-season, this goal at Craven Cottage marked his first in a competitive match for his new club. His game concluded just before Arsenal’s match against Villa kicked off, and it’s possible that Smith Rowe watched his former teammates secure their 2-0 win.
The bond between Smith Rowe and Arsenal’s current squad was apparent on social media following his goal. Despite his departure from Arsenal for a transfer fee of £34 million, Smith Rowe remains extremely popular among his former teammates.
This was evident from the enthusiastic reactions of players like William Saliba and Bukayo Saka to Smith Rowe’s Instagram post, in which he shared a photo celebrating his goal and expressed his happiness and determination to continue building on his success.
For Arsenal fans, the weekend was filled with moments to cherish: a solid win for their team and a goal from a former fan favorite.
However, Mikel Arteta is sure to keephis squad focused on the challenges that lie ahead. Tough matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur are just around the corner, and Arsenal will need to maintain their momentum as they continue their campaign.
