Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal Stats and Highlights

Published January 13, 2014 · Updated January 13, 2014

Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League with a deserved win against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Two first-half goals within 59 seconds from Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud were enough for the Gunners to leapfrog Manchester City and Chelsea.

Midfielder Wilshere slotted in from 12 yards before Arsenal’s lead was doubled by striker Giroud’s thumping finish.

Villa mounted a spirited fightback after Christian Benteke’s far-post header but could not find a leveller.

Watch English Premier League match, Aston Villa Vs Arsenal highlights here.

Head-to-head

Aston Villa haven’t beaten Arsenal at home in 14 attempts since coming from two goals down to win 3-2 in December 1998 (D7, L7).

Arsenal have lost only three of their subsequent 30 league meetings with Villa, including a 3-1 home defeat on the opening day of this season.

Aston Villa have not beaten Arsenal home and away in the same season since the inaugural Premier League campaign of 1992-93.

Aston Villa

Villa ended a five-match winless run in the Premier League with their New Year’s Day victory at Sunderland.

They have lost half of their last 48 league matches at Villa Park, earning just 46 points in that period (W11, D13, L24).

Villa’s tally of eight points at Villa Park is their worst record after 10 home matches of a top-flight season (based on three points for a win).

Paul Lambert’s side have not scored in five of their last seven Premier League home games.

Villa have only scored seven goals at home, the fewest by any team in the division.

Christian Benteke has not scored for 11 Premier League matches. It’s 13 hours and 29 minutes since his last goal, against Newcastle in September.

Arsenal

The Gunners won the most away points (41) in the Premier League in 2013.

Their tally of 45 points after 20 matches is their highest at this stage of a season since 2007-08 (47 pts).

No team has scored the first goal in more Premier League games this season than Arsenal (15).

Conversely, no side has scored the first goal on fewer occasions this season than Aston Villa (5).

Arsene Wenger’s side have won just two of their last nine Premier League matches in January (W2, D2, L5).