FT: Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal; First-Half strike from Saka sees Gunners bag 2,000 PL goals plus three points

Four points clear in fourth with one game in hand over Manchester United.

Arsenal continue to get it done 👊 pic.twitter.com/7KrSPKTal4

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 19, 2022

2000 Premier League goals for Arsenal.

They’re the third team to hit the milestone after Manchester United and Liverpool 🎯 pic.twitter.com/pUwC1znnB9

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 19, 2022

Arsenal’s charge to reach the UEFA Champions League next season continues on a positive note, after beating Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park. A first half goal from Bukayo Saka not only saw the Gunners maintain a firm grip on fourth spot, but also sees the North London outfit reach 2,000 goals in the Premier League era.

A 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 three points in the hunt for top four!

🟣 0-1 🟡 (FT)#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/3JV1BB3wX6

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

FULL-TIME AT VILLA PARK: Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal

Back at it for the second half 👌

🟣 0-1 🟡 (46)#AVLARS

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT VILLA PARK: Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal

Sliding into the break like…

🟣 0-1 🟡 (HT)#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/s8ZohweYNI

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

HALF-TIME AT VILLA PARK: Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal

🚨 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 🚨

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀.

Bukayo Saka bags our 2000th @PremierLeague goal! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/S7soZ7OEIp

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

STATS: Bukayo Saka’s strike for the Gunners means that Arsenal has scored 2,000 goals in the Premier League.

Head over heels for @BukayoSaka87 💛

🟣 0-1 🟡 (44)#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/EAfghZOvcP

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

30′ MIN: Bukayo Saka picks up the ball from a rebound and from the edge of the box he unleashes a low shot into the bottom left corner. Emiliano Martinez is unable to keep the ball out of the net.

SAKAAAA! 🤩

Bukayo hits one through the crowd from outside the box and we lead at Villa Park! 🏟

🟣 0-1 🟡 (30)#AVLARS pic.twitter.com/k9l97zrg2B

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

GOOOAAAALLL!!! Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal (B. Saka)

⏱️ Underway at Villa Park…

LET'S GO LADS! ✊

🟣 0-0 🟡 (1)#AVLARS

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

KICK-OFF AT VILLA PARK: Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

Warmed up and ready for kick-off ✅ pic.twitter.com/Dhef2FqeTT

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta has named German shot-stopper Bernd Leno in goal in place of Aaron Ramsdale who is out due to a hip injury, while Brazilian hitman Gabriel Martinelli is unavailable for the clash due to illness.

📋 Team news from Villa Park…

🧤 Leno starts in goal
🔄 Smith Rowe in for Martinelli
🇫🇷 Laca leads the line#AVLARS

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022

Villa boss Steven Gerrard has listed the usual suspects in Phillipe Coutinho, Matt Cash, Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz in his starting XI.

This is your Aston Villa team to face Arsenal this afternoon. 👊 #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/Ip5royhfVi

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 19, 2022

Both sides come into this game having lost their respective matches last time out, and will be seeking to get a positive result at the end of 90 minutes. Aston Villa fell to West Ham United at the London Stadium while Arsenal lost 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to visiting Liverpool on Thursday.

Villa Park is set. 👌 #AVLARS

Team news is up next… pic.twitter.com/ty6oHcfPbc

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 19, 2022

Good afternoon and welcome to Apex Football’s LIVE Matchday 30 coverage of the English Premier League. Today’s coverage will be the fixture between Aston Villa and Arsenal set to go down at Villa Park in an early lunchtime kick-off.