Ollie Watkins on target as Aston Villa boost European chances while delivering a 'big blow' to Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's side fell behind after just 74 seconds at Villa Park and were unable to muster a convincing response

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, centre, celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game against Arsenal at Villa Park on February 6. Reuters

Arsenal goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saves a shot from Aston Villa's Jack Grealish. Reuters

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Reuters

Arsenal goalkeeper Mat Ryan cannot stop Ollie Watkins' shot hitting the back of the net. EPA

Arsenal's midfielder Thomas Partey limps off after picking up an injury. AFP

Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard under pressure from Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and Marvelous Nakamba. AFP

Villa goalscorer Ollie Watkins is challenged by Rob Holding of Arsenal. Getty

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa is shown a yellow card by referee Chris Kavanagh. AP

Arsenal goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saves from Aston Villa's Trezeguet. AP

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, scores the winning goal after 74 seconds. AP

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta after the match. Reuters

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Martinez celebrate after the match. Reuters

For one, the boyhood dream was to score goals for Arsenal. For the other, to stop them going in the Gunners’ net. Seventy-five seconds in and neither Ollie Watkins nor Mat Ryan realised a lifelong ambition but the striker had more to celebrate than the goalkeeper and most Arsenal supporters had little to enjoy.

Watkins’ third goal against Arsenal this season – and a 10th in total, offering value for his hefty £28 million ($38.5m) fee – brought Aston Villa a first double over the Gunners in 28 seasons.

“These players like to make history,” said manager Dean Smith. It is his side who look likelier to end the season in a European place. If Arsenal’s post-Christmas revival offered hope of an improbable surge into the top four, the last week has provided an unwanted reality check. “A big blow,” said Mikel Arteta.

Bernd Leno's dismissal came amid the chaos of defeat at Wolves. A tale of two Arsenal fans was also a story of two goalkeepers. Borrowed from Brighton, where he had lost his place, and parachuted in for his debut, Ryan went on to make a string of saves. Defeat was not his fault, but few Gunners careers begin less auspiciously.

Few have ended better than Emi Martinez’s. The Argentinian won silverware in his last two games before abandoning life as Leno’s understudy for a spot as a first-choice and he reminded Arsenal what they lost while gaining £20m. He has two clean sheets against them this season, brilliantly clawing away Granit Xhaka’s free kick and reacting smartly to block Nicolas Pepe’s deflected shot. He has a clean sheet in the majority of his league games this season and is a reason why Villa are one of this season’s most improved teams.

Arteta noted that Villa were better in both boxes, which can be attributed to Watkins and Martinez. Their impact can be seen in the table. “We have matched our [final] points tally of last season after 21 games which shows our level of improvement,” Smith said. “We deserved it."

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Aston Villa v Arsenal player ratings

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Arteta disagreed. “We completely dominated the game in every department.” That was an exaggeration. Villa fashioned a series of chances. Watkins was a constant threat, leading the line with relentless zeal and a persistence that could have brought him another goal. One shot was skewed wide, two more parried by Ryan. The crucial strike was not his cleanest.

Arsenal may have ultimately missed the injured Kieran Tierney more than the banned Leno. Cedric Soares deputised at left-back and coughed up possession to Bertrand Traore. He advanced and provided a low cutback and Watkins’ shot flicked off Rob Holding on its way in. His 100th career goal was a fourth in five games. “We gave them the ball,” Arteta lamented. “The moment you make a mistake, they punish you.”

So far, so bad for Ryan. His day got better. His wait for a save ended when Traore tried to chip him, the goalkeeper read it and clawed his effort away. He parried a well-struck effort from John McGinn, denied Jack Grealish and prevented Watkins from doubling his tally.

Arsenal could rue a slow start and the officiating. Arteta felt Ezri Konsa should have been dismissed for a challenge on Bukayo Saka. “Regardless of what the referee did today we should win the game comfortably,” he added.

They threatened more after the break, with Pepe angling a shot just wide. Arteta brought on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Martin Odegaard and each directed efforts over the bar. “When you are not ruthless in their box then you don’t win games,” Arteta said. “It cost us two games in the last four days.”