With 54 points, the Gunners are back in front of Manchester City, who have 51 but with a better goal difference and who travel to Nottingham Forest in the afternoon.
Three days after their defeat (1-3) at home in the shock against their main rival, a reaction from the Londoners was expected and it finally came at the very end of the match.
Facing Aston Villa where their former coach Unai Emery seems to have succeeded in setting up his game, Arsenal still sometimes lacked offensive and defensive efficiency, but compensated with a foolproof mentality.
The opener, from the 5th minute, was an illustration of this, Ollie Watkins finding space too easily before playing William Saliba just as easily and sending a cross shot as powerful as it was precise to deceive Aaron Ramsdale (1-0, 5th).
But after an incredible save from Tyrone Mings in front of Eddie Nketiah, a few centimeters from the line (12th), Arsenal came back to height on a lightning volley from Bukayo Saka (1-1, 16th).
A quarter of an hour later, after a very good combination and a ball that Emiliano Buendia let pass between his legs, Philippe Coutinho put the Villans back in the lead with composure (2-1, 31st).
The Gunners again managed to equalize on a corner played back by Martin Odegaard and taken dryly at ground level and without control by Oleksandr Zinchenko for his first goal with his new club (2-2, 61st).
The end of the match was very indecisive, Odegaard missing the target when he was alone at the penalty spot (77th) before Leon Bailey saw his powerful attempt deflected on the crossbar by Ramsdale (82nd).
Arsenal's Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli against Aston Villa in Birmingham on February 18, 2023 © Geoff Caddick / AFP
The release finally came with a shot from snooker in injury time: a 22-yard strike from outside by Jorginho hit the corner of the top corner before bouncing off goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's skull and into the goal (2-3, 90+3).
Gabriel Martinelli added a fourth goal in nets deserted by Martinez, mounted on the corner of the last chance, but the Gunners proved that he had not abdicated.
© 2023 AFP