Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored as Arsenal thrashed Aston Villa 3-1 at the Emirates on Friday night.
Thomas Partey opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 23rd minute following a corner kick, glancing the ball off his shoulder from close range after Emile Smith Rowe’s whipped in kick set him up.
It could have been 2-0 when Bukayo Saka was put in on goal, but his first-time shot went straight at Emiliano Martinez, who appeared to keep it out with his legs.
Aubameyang added a deserved second in stoppage time after Emiliano Martinez denied an initial spot-kick following a Matt Targett foul in the area.
Craig Pawson awarded the penalty after a VAR review in added time showed Villa defender Targett went through Lacazette’s legs.
Aubameyang’s clever flick set up Smith Rowe for Arsenal’s third, and the England international made the most of a chance on the counter-attack to beat Martinez, thanks to a deflection off Tyrone Mings’ boot.
The Villains pulled one back after 80 minutes when Jacob Ramsey curled home from 18 yards out.
A true comeback was already out of reach and Mikel Arteta’s side held on to win all three points.
Arsenal move up to ninth place after securing 14 points from nine games so far this season, while Villa remain in 13th with 10 points.
