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FA Premier League: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0 – Gunners keep winning streak going

Saturday, 24th March 2012

ARSENAL 3 ASTON VILLA 0

By STEVE BARNETT at THE EMIRATE STADIUM

March 24, 2012

ARSENE Wenger has described Arsenal's remaining league games as "finals" after seeing his side win their seventh game on the spin. 

Goals from Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta sealed a comfortable 3-0 win over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon. 
The result leaves them three points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham, who were held to a goalless draw against fifth-placed Chelsea in the day's early kick-off. 
 
Following what he called a "fluent performance", Wenger said, "Overall I'm very happy. Back in August it was a dream to finish in the top-four. But you keep doing your job, and try and stay positive. Now we have to make sure we keep up our momentum. With eight games to go, every game is now a final." 
 
Arsenal put in a commanding performance full of confident passing and clever movement, which Villa found too hot to handle.
The game could have started off with a red card as Emile Heskey caught Johan Djourou with his elbow within the opening minute of the match, leaving the defender with a bloodied nose.
 
After a short stoppage the home side quickly found their stride and took an early lead when lazy defending allowed Gibbs to strike his first Arsenal league goal with a deflected effort that somehow found a way past Shay Given. 
 

Captain Robin van Persie had a host of chances to net his usual goal before the break, his best effort stopped brilliantly on the line by Stephen Warnock. 

 

Arteta also went close as he brought the best out in Given with a powerful effort from 25-yards.

 

There was a familiar feel to the Gunners second goal as Walcott cushioned Alex Song's perfectly floated pass before coolly beating Given at the near post. 

 

Arsenal were happy to keep the ball after the break, and wrapped up a comfortable win in stoppage time when Arteta powered home a free-kick from all of 30-yards.

 

Reflecting on Walcott's goal Wenger said: "Theo had a good performance and scored a great goal. But I want to give credit to Song for the pass. It's not the first time he has done that this season."

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