Aston Villa v. Arsenal | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | 12/9/2023 | NBC Sports

So, to the protagonists themselves. No surprises from the Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery. It's the same team that started against Manchester City. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, their last line of defence. Clean sheets, though, have been at a premium, so Wednesday's came as a pleasant change. Diego Carlos now nicely settled at centre-back after his long-term injury. In midfield, the axis of Kamara and Douglas Luiz is firmly established, so that means that for Uri Tielemans, the best chance of a spot comes as a No. 10. Bailly and McGinn play either side, and Ollie Watkins, with eight goals and six assists so far, is proving an inspiring leader of the line. There is also usable strength on the bench, with DRB and Jacob Ramsey likely to be involved as the match progresses. Kel Arteta saw his side score a 97th-minute winner at Luton on Tuesday. One change today. David Rye had a fairly uncomfortable evening at Kenilworth Road, but remains. Zinchenko returns at left-back, instead of Jakob Kibio, Tommy Yassou still out with a calf problem. The outstanding Declan Rice anchors the midfield, with Odegaard and Havertz allowed to show a little more creativity. Saka plays his 150th Premier League game at the tender age of 22. Martinelli patrols the left flank, Jesus is the spearhead. The absences of Smithrow, Fabio Vieiro and Kati puts a bit of a strain on numbers, so there is a place on the bench for 18-year-old defender Ruel Walters. So welcome one and all to the Premier League's happy place. Aston Villa, three days after conquering the champions, now staring into the eye of the Saturday morning leaders. The Champions of England last in 1981, have made to this point their best start to a top-flight season in the four decades since. It's Martinelli for Arsenal, into the eyes of Konca, and beyond him, scratched away by Luiz, thundered by Havertz, but it's a good block from the Camara. And we can get a first word from Leipzig. Awareness that somebody was behind him, aware of where the pass needed to go. Slipped on by Thielemans, taken up by Bailly, driving at Gabriel. It's Leon Bailly, it's John McGinn! It's one-nil! Well, McGinn puts it in the net, but Bailly, have a look. Where's Yunchenko is? Bailly, right winger. Left back for Arsenal is Yunchenko. Just have a little look. There he is, pressing. And then he carries on inside to midfield. And that just leaves Bailly on Gabriel, and there's the space. The pullback's brilliant, but the finish, absolutely world-class. Leaning back, he knows he has to lift it. But Yunchenko's out of position, he goes following into midfield, that leaves the gap, Gabriel's against him. But the finish, Bailly knows the space, he's not there, it's a little pullback. The touch, and then the lean-back. Rea, no chance. And we've got to start taking Villa seriously. It's Thien into the wall, it's Luis, into Saka. Reiss, Jesus, Saka's onside! Licked out as Horace White. I think if you're a runaway supporter it would be very frustrating, but I'm sure it's... Wormbeck is in trouble, Reiss is onto it, but he sold Saka short and Pau Torres cleared. Odegaard, Saka. Two or three times now Odegaard's just had those little balls on the edge of the box. Just picks it up here with a bit of space, they win it back. And then it's that little pass, but it's a good one. And that just sets up a little 1v1, and to be fair, Torres has done well against Saka when he's been faced with him, on that occasion he gets his shot away. Watkins got goalside of Saliba, and he did get away a shot of sorts. Saka, and Odegaard drilled it! Elias was spawning a bit of this near post. From that right foot, and whipped those balls into... Gabriel, that's a Super Bowl, Martinelli over the goalkeeper! By Diego Carlos, Saka. Jesus, Gabriel Jesus had a couple down, couldn't dispatch a shot. Mantegna cleared, Watkins gathered, Telemans couldn't keep it. Watkins took it back, and here's Douglas Luiz, frenzied. Nicked back by Martinelli, taken in his stride by Havertz. It's Kai Havertz, it's Gabriel Jesus, it's Martin Odegaard! It's a routine save in the end for Martinez, who anticipated well. He's had a little guess there that he's going to his right. He just thinks, brilliant football from Havertz, he pulls it back, the lay-off is great. Right foot there, he doesn't, he puts it on his left, Odegaard, and you'd think he's got an open goal. And to be fair to the keeper, it's almost like a penalty, he just chooses which way, and guesses perfectly to make a decent save. It's a big miss from Odegaard, getting in that position, he's got to score. Well, to reload it, Torres with a curious miscue. And Martinez playing, he has this corner to defend. Saka takes, Martinez lost it, and it's scraped off the line. His first moment of vulnerability. Well, Martinez having a word with Watkins, and whether he shouted, keep his ball and Watkins get something on it. There he is near post. And he shouted mine or something, I don't know, and Watkins just let it go, and then all of a sudden it's off the post and in the hands again of Martinez, gets lucky. From Gilles' point of view, they've almost climbed a mountain the other night. Finkenko, and Havertz, and Odegaard has stealed it wide. And he knows. Havertz getting in on this left-hand side. And it's almost on a plate, just look at Odegaard's position. Just sitting off, and then when it comes to him, on his left foot he opened his hip up, and it just comes a bit quick to him, and he can't quite get it on target, and it's a big chance, it really is. He's got to be doing better than that. McGinn, and Luke Ford for the run of Diaby, who is so swift. And Watkins! Well, he got across. Diaby did brilliant, look how quick he is. Just goes past Gabriel, Saliba makes the decision just to back off him. I wonder if that was a wise one, I'm not so sure. It's a good save in the end. Odegaard over it, Reiss up to it, and through the wall. But the pace was taken off. Stolen back by Kash, and Kash drives on and drives wide. I tell you what, that was a big win for Kash, cos if he doesn't get to this ball, Phil are in all sorts of trouble. Saka took an alternative route, Reiss, Odegaard... But there may have been a hand involved. There may well have been a hand involved. Yeah, my view from here, and your view as well, Pete, but look, I saw something come on, not sure whose hand it was, but it seemed right on the line, and Ketty was in there, Declan Reiss was in there, and it looked like it hit something. And this is the ball into the box. And it's Havertz, the ball pops up just there, hits him on the inside of the elbow. What I would say is it's different because Nketiah scores the goal. If Havertz scores this goal, it cannot stand, cos it's his handball. Nketiah having scored the goal, if Havertz' handball is... Hits him once on the hand, twice on the hand. But it's Nketiah who stabs it in, and that does make a difference. I'm not sure who gets the last touch. Havertz turns around as if it's him, he's hit his hand about three times. Once on the way up, once there on the inside, and then his hand hits it on the way down. This is going to be disallowed, I'm pretty sure about it. Just to make clear, the on-field decision was handball. The referee gave handball, I believe, in the first instance. It looks like Havertz gets the final touch, so you would expect the on-field decision to stand about three times. Hits him on the inside of the elbow, on the way down it hits his hand. I can't see how this can be given. I've taken enough looks at it. It's definitely Havertz who gets the touch. It is Havertz who gets the touch, which means that the goal can't stand. If it's Havertz who scores, then even accidental handball indicates that it can't be a goal, and they've confirmed it. Yeah, the on-field decision is confirmed, the goal will be disallowed. And then they're looking at the injury to Martinez as well. I would suggest that maybe Martinez has got a little whack in there. It's the right outcome. Yeah, no complaints there. Martinez has got a cut on his face by the look of it. He's happy and he isn't. Lifted up towards Nketiah, out by Paltoris. Reiss, Gabriel, Reiss. It's Reiss, it's Nketiah, it's high, it's surely done. In between defenders as well, it's just a little bit too high. Ball into it, Nketiah. In between two defenders, probably just one that offside. Can't get it down. Looks like the job done for Villa. Second in the Premier League, Aston Villa, he's seen enough. Second defeat of the Premier League season for Arsenal. At the hands of the man who was once their leader. Not done enough at the pointed end for Arsenal today. Had a lot of possession, just been a little bit... That's a blue. John McGuinns was the only goal, it was a super goal. It is the goal by which Aston Villa climbed to second place in the Premier League. And, Rebecca, you've got to begin to believe in them. Villa won, Arsenal nil. And for even more Premier League content, from original series to live matches, head over to Peacock. And be sure to tune in for Premier League mornings every weekend on USA Network and on Peacock. We will see you there.