Premierleague

ARSENAL 3 (Pepe 55 [pen], Chambers 81, Aubameyang 85)

ASTON VILLA 2 (McGinn 20, Wesley 60)

A LATE free kick by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw ten-man Arsenal complete an unlikely turnaround against newly promoted Aston Villa.

The result will spare Unai Emery a major inquest this week but there are many cracks that look certain to reappear.

The manager has sent two out-of-place full backs pushing so far up the wing they are often crossing from near the opposition’s corner flag.

This leaves a large square of the pitch, between the centre circle and Leno’s box, marshalled by chaos and uncertainty.

Central defensive pairing Sokratis and David Luiz look Championship level, while midfielders Granit Xhaka and Matt Guendouzi are also liabilities.

The slick passing of the Wenger era has gone and there is no one with the creativity or one-touch skill to break through a stubborn defence. Pepe, for all his step-overs and speedy acceleration, does not have much of a football brain.

After the match, Emery said:  “In 90 minutes a lot of things happened. When it was 11 versus 11 we didn’t control the match how we wanted because we lost a lot of balls in the middle and gave them chances in the transition. When we could attack and get the ball in the box we weren’t bad really and we were also creating chances to score.”

The match has started with much optimism Bukayo Saka, fresh from his man of the match performance against Frankfurt, starting up front alongside Aubameyang.

John McGinn easily flicked past Leno after a straightforward cross from El Ghazi completely outwitted Guendouzi, Sokratis and Luiz.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent off for a second yellow on 41 minutes. The first was warranted but the second seemed a harsh punishment for a 50/50 tackle . The midfielder-turned-right-back limped-off after being shown the red card by ref Jonathan Moss.

Arsenal could well have been two down going into the break but Arsenal drew level through a Pepe penalty. Aubameyang, as he had done when Lacazette was struggling for a first goal last season, had offered the new signing the spot-kick.

But Villa regained the lead five minutes later after Wesley converted a Jack Grealsh cross. Calum Chambers brought on for Saka at the start of the second half to sure-up the defence without Maitland-Niles scored on 81 minutes with a deft chip.

Guendouzi, after a woeful first half, redeemed himself in the second with improved passing and showing guile that had been completely absent in the first half.

Problem captain, Xhaka, was substituted off for the promising Willock, to overhwleming approval from the fans. Tragic Mesut Ozil remained on the bench for the duration.

Aubameyang powered in a free kick and ran screaming into the fans while Villa had a good shout for a penalty in injury time. But Arsenal took all three points, moving them up into fourth.

With Spurs, Chelsea and United all losing, back into Champions League contention. Unbelievably, Emery’s side is just two behind free-scoring Man City.

Arsenal take on United next Monday at Old Trafford in a showdown of two fallen giants, after Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland Niles (sent off 41), Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasanic, Guendouzi, Xhaka (Willock 72), Pepe, Ceballos (Torreira 72), Saka (Chambers 45), Aubameyang.

Subs not used: Ozil, Nelson, Martinez, Martinelli.

Villa: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor, McGinn, Nakamba (Hourihane 85), Grealsh, Trezeguet (El Mohamedy 68), Wesley, El Ghazi,

Subs not used: Lansbury, Steer, Konsa, Jota, Davis.