Game #5217
Aston Villa
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Won
5th
Last 5: 🟩 🟩 🟥 🟨 🟩
Premier League
Attendance: 60,003
Arsenal
Emirates Stadium
Arsenal
1-3
Aston Villa
Assist(s) | Andreas Weimann | 85’ |
MATCH SUMMARY
With Paul Lambert still in post after a terrible first season that delivered Villa's worst ever defeat and saw them avoid relegation only on the strength of Christian Benteke's goals, they open the campaign with a shock win in an atypical but highly welcome Lambert performance.
KEY MAN
Christian Benteke celebrates his latest strike as Villa open 2013-14 with an excellent win away at Arsenal under Paul Lambert, Saturday, 17 August 2013.
PREVIOUS MATCH
NEXT MATCH
MATCH TIMELINE
Saturday, 17 August 2013
🟢 | 1’ Debut, Antonio Luna
🥅 | 6’ Goal, 0-1, (Arsenal), Olivier Giroud
🔁 | 17’ Sub off, Nathan Baker, Sub on, Ciaran Clark
⚽ | 22’ Goal, 1-1, Christian Benteke
🟨 | 30’ Booking, Ron Vlaar
🟨 | 45’ Booking, Antonio Luna
🕒 | HT Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
🟨 | 60’ Booking, Christian Benteke
⚽ | 61’ Goal, 2-1, Christian Benteke (pen)
🟨 | 65’ Booking, Ashley Westwood
🟥 | 67’ Sending off, (Arsenal), Laurent Koscielny
⚽ | 85’ Goal, 3-1, Antonio Luna, Assist by Andreas Weimann
🔁 | 88’ Sub off, Andreas Weimann, Sub on, Leandro Bacuna 🟢
🟨 | 90’+5 Booking, Gabriel Agbonlahor
🕒 | FT Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa
ON THIS DAY
Paul Lambert’s Villa open the season with an excellent win at Arsenal with echoes of their victory at Anfield in December 2012, with Christian Benteke once again the architect.
Meanwhile, left back Antonio Luna, 22, and midfielder Leandro Bacuna, 21, made their debut after signing from Sevilla FC for £1,800,000 and FC Groningen for £1,260,000 respectively in July 2013,
Aston Villa
European Cup / Champions League: 🏆
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: ❌
League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Arsenal
European Cup / Champions League: ❌
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 🏆
League Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
FA Cup Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
League Cup Winners: 🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 2004-05
FIXTURE HISTORY
Arsenal
Previous 5 vs. Arsenal: 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟨 🟥
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 2013-14 |
Matchday | #1 |
League Game | #1 |
Manager Game | #47 |
Saturday, 17 August 2013
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager: Paul Lambert | 🏴 | Glasgow, 2012-2015
Referee: Anthony Taylor | 🏴 | Wythenshaw, 2006-
Kick off: 3.00pm
HT Score: 🟨 1-1
FT Score: 🟩 3-1
FT Result: 🟩 Won
Last 5: 🟩 🟩 🟥 🟨 🟩
MANAGERIAL RECORD
Paul Lambert | 🏴 |
GAMES | WINS | DRAWS | LOSSES | POINTS PER GAME
🕒 47 | 🟩 | 17 🟨 | 11 🟥 19 | 1.32
Villa Career Form:
Mid Table
Paul Lambert | 🏴 |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Anthony Taylor | 🏴 | Wythenshaw, 2006- 🆘
Previous 5: 🟥 🟥 🟨 🟨 🟥
Last Match: 🟥 22 Apr 13, Villa 0-3 United (a)
Cards: 🟥 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨
Assistants: Harry Lennard, Mick McDonough
Anthony Taylor
CARDS
Villa
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨
Arsenal
🟥 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨
TEAM NEWS
Paul Lambert hands a debut to Antonio Luna whilst, Aleksandar Tonev, Nicklas Helenius, Leandro Bacuna, Jores Okore and Jed Steer make their first squad appearances.
Meanwhile, Darren Bent, Villa’s record signing, whom Lambert had such a problem playing in 2012-13 is loaned out for the season whilst Charles N’Zogbia has an injury that will rule him out for the entire campaign.
Gérard Houllier's infamous 'bomb squad' of first team players not to be considered for duty, which Paul Lambert reintroduced to such detriment in the previous campaign, is once again in operation, with its first members Stephen Ireland, Shay Given - who Lambert had steadfastly refused to play in 2012-13 and Alan Hutton who spent the entirety of the last season excluded from selection.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 24.89 |
Oldest Player |
GK Brad Guzan | 🇺🇸 | 28.96 |
Youngest Player |
F Andreas Weimann | 🇦🇹 | 22.05 |
MANAGER
Paul Lambert | 🏴 |
Aston Villa
GK Brad Guzan | 🇺🇸 |
LB Antonio Luna | 🇪🇸 | 🟢 | 🟨 | ⚽ |
CB Nathan Baker | 🏴 | 🔁 |
CB Ron Vlaar | 🇳🇱 | 🟨 |
RB Matt Lowton | 🏴 |
M Karim El Ahmadi | 🇲🇦 |
M Ashley Westwood | 🏴 | 🟨 |
M Fabian Delph | 🏴 |
F Andreas Weimann | 🇦🇹 | 🔥 | 🔁 |
F Gabriel Agbonlahor | 🏴 | 🟨 |
CF Christian Benteke | 🇧🇪 | ⚽ | ⚽ | 🟨 |
MANAGER
Arsène Wenger | 🇫🇷 |
Arsenal
GK Wojciech Szczęsny | 🇵🇱 | 🟨 |
LB Kieran Gibbs | 🏴 | 🔁 |
CB Per Mertesacker | 🇩🇪 |
CB Laurent Koscielny | 🇫🇷 | 🟨 | 🟨 | 🟥 |
RB Bacary Sagna | 🇫🇷 | 🔁 |
M Tomáš Rosický | 🇨🇿 | 🟨 |
M Jack Wilshere | 🏴 | 🟨 |
M Aaron Ramsey | 🏴 |
W Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 🏴 | 🔁 |
W Theo Walcott | 🏴 |
CF Olivier Giroud | 🇫🇷 | ⚽ |
SUBSTITUTES
🔁 CB Ciaran Clark | 🇮🇪 | for CB Nathan Baker | 🏴 | 17’ |
🔁 M Leandro Bacuna | 🇨🇼 | 🟢 | for F Andreas Weimann | 🇦🇹 | 88’ |
SUBSTITUTES
🔁 | LB Kieran Gibbs | 🏴 | (RB Carl Jenkinson | 🏴 |)
🔁 | RB Bacary Sagna | 🇫🇷 | (M Lukas Podolski | 🇩🇪 |)
🔁 | W Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 🏴 | (M Santi Carzola | 🇪🇸 | 🟨 |)
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
GK Jed Steer | 🏴 |
CB Jores Okore | 🇩🇰 |
W Aleksandar Tonev | 🇧🇬 |
F Jordan Bowery | 🏴 |
CF Nicklas Helenius | 🇩🇰 |
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
GK Lukasz Fabiański | 🇵🇱 |
M Emmanuel Frimpong | 🇬🇭 |
W Serge Gnabry | 🇩🇪 |
CF Yaya Sanogo | 🇫🇷 |
SQUAD STATS
1st XI: £32.00m
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 5/11
Homegrown: 3/11
Squad:
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 7/18
Homegrown: 4/18
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
Team Cost: £100.50m
1st XI:
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 5/11
Squad:
Home Nation 🏴 🏴 🏴 🇬🇧 : 6/18
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
Injury | 3 |
RB Chris Herd | 🇦🇺 |
M Yacouba Sylla | 🇲🇱 |
W Charles N’Zogbia | 🇫🇷 |
Bomb Squad | 3 |
GK Shay Given | 🇮🇪 |
RB Alan Hutton | 🏴 |
M Stephen Ireland | 🇮🇪 |
Out on Loan | 4 |
F Graham Burke | 🇮🇪 | Shrewsbury
M Samir Carruthers | 🏴 | MK Dons
F Darren Bent | 🏴 | Fulham
F Nathan Delfouneso | 🏴 | Blackpool
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Positions:
GK : Goalkeeper
CB, D, B : Centre Back, Defender, Back
FB, LB, RB, WH : Full Back, Left Back, Right Back, Wing Back, Wing Half
M, CH, LH, RH : Midfielder, Centre Half, Left Half, Right Half
W, OL, OR : Winger, Outside Left, Outside Right
F, IF, IL, IR : Forward, Inside Forward, Inside Left, Inside Right, Second Striker, False 9
CF : Centre Forward
Match Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
DEBUT APPEARANCES
🟢 LB Antonio Luna | 🇪🇸 |
🟢 M Leandro Bacuna | 🇨🇼 |
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Possession F | 36%
Possession A | 64%
Shots F | 4
Shots A | 6
Shots on Target F | 1
Shots on Target A | 3
Corners F | 3
Corners A | 4
Fouls F | 19
Fouls A | 13
LEAGUE TABLE
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
“After weathering the early storm we were outstanding, especially on the counter-attack. We were absolutely frightening at times - Agbonlahor produced as good a performance as I’ve seen in many a year, he was unplayable. We were very strong at the top of the pitch but, all round, Agbonlahor was frightening with his speed. Guzan also produced two world-class saves. We were well worthy of winning the game.
“On the first penalty, Gabby had no right to get there. I’ve seen them given as red cards but the referee had a good game. The second penalty was a stone-waller. We know the league is really hard, you have to start as well as you can and if you’re not 100% you will end up losing games.
“I’m proud of them, they deserve credit. The front three lads are a handful for any team. We’re a really young side with enthusiasm and hunger for the game and to do well. There’s a long, long way to go, we will have ups and downs, but after that I’m over the moon.”
Paul Lambert, Saturday, 17 August 2013.
*BBC Sport*
Saturday, 17 August 2013
*Christian Benteke scored twice and Antonio Luna added a third as Aston Villa came from behind to stun Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on the opening day.*
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring, but Benteke headed an equaliser after Wojciech Szczesny saved his penalty.
Benteke controversially put Villa ahead from the spot after a foul by Laurent Koscielny, who was later shown a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge.
New signing Luna raced clear to seal Arsenal’s woe with a low strike.
The full-time whistle was greeted with resounding boos from the home crowd, although the arena was near-empty by that point.
Arsenal’s only summer signing to date is the free transfer of 20-year-old French striker Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre, and supporters were repeatedly chanting for their club to spend some money.
Arsene Wenger has 16 days to bolster the squad, but his immediate priority will be Wednesday’s Champions League play-off first leg at Fenerbahce.
It was Arsenal’s first home defeat on the season’s opening day in 20 years and only Villa’s sixth victory in 28 league trips to the Gunners.
It was an indication of Arsenal’s lack of transfer activity that their starting line-up was identical to the side which finished the final match of last season away to Newcastle.
In contrast to Wenger, Paul Lambert has recruited six new faces in the off-season and, although only Luna and Leandro Bacuna featured on this occasion, there was certainly a sense of freshness about their play.
Arguably Lambert’s best piece of business has been convincing Benteke to withdraw his transfer request and with the Belgian’s importance illustrated one again.
Arsenal dominated the early stages and it told when Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky combined to release Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left. He clipped in a low cross that Giroud converted with a first-time finish.
But the Gunners rarely looked like extending the advantage.
Benteke scored or created 49% of Villa’s league goals last season and he got off the mark for this campaign with a close-range header after Szczesny stopped his penalty with a diving save.
The Pole had conceded the spot-kick by upending Gabriel Agbonlahor, who surged through Arsenal’s defence.
Villa showed greater urgency after the equaliser, denying Wilshere, Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey the time and space they earlier enjoyed.
An injured Oxlade-Chamberlain was replaced by Santi Cazorla and the Spaniard’s arrival gave Arsenal renewed impetus: Giroud going close and Rosicky blazing over when clean through after a slick move.
But such ambition was leaving them exposed at the back and Fabian Delph’s drive came back off the post - Hawk-Eye technology was used for the first time in the Premier League to show it had not crossed the line - before Agbonlahor launched the latest of numerous counter-attacks.
Koscielny slid in on Agbonlahor and appeared to touch the ball, but referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the penalty spot.
Benteke sent Szczesny the wrong way and Arsenal’s day deteriorated as Koscielny was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Andreas Weimann.
Despite the anger pouring down from the stands, Arsenal composed themselves to press for a leveller and the excellent Brad Guzan foiled Rosicky, before clawing Cazorla’s close-ranger shot on to the bar.
Wenger’s men were caught out one final time when Andreas Weimann released Luna and he fired past Szczesny at the near post.
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. With thanks to Trinity Mirror. Digitised by Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited. All rights reserved. Source: British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)