Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka makes the difference against Aston Villa

When the full-time whistle blew, a second or two after Bernd Leno had diverted Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick away with his most significant intervention of the game, Arsenal’s players merged into a huddle. A few yards away their supporters celebrated as if this was more than a mere three points and they were probably right.

Arsenal had needed to pass this test and they did it with conviction: they gave Aston Villa nothing for an hour, and little more after that, while giving a convincing impression of a side that will hold on to fourth place. They may fall the wrong side of the margins against Liverpool and Manchester City, but they are barely missing a beat against anyone else.

A continuation of that over the next two months would secure a return to the Champions League and, surely, banish any of the doubts about Mikel Arteta. It felt significant that well after their team had completed its long, lingering celebrations on the pitch the away supporters were serenading their manager to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising”.

Arteta has talked in the past of the need to convince people about the merits of his approach and the chant did not go over his head. “This is what gives sense to everything we do,” he said. Anyone who held doubts must at least be on the point of conversion, because Arsenal look as well-coached a team as any in the league.

Their performance here was doubly impressive given that, as Arteta had emphatically pointed out at any opportunity in the previous three days, a Wednesday night fixture with Liverpool had done them few favours. By the end Arsenal looked leggy and unapologetically content to hold on, with Rob Holding deployed from the bench to complete a back five and repel the modest pressure Villa exerted. But for most of the game they had operated at a different speed: fast, fizzy but also gritty, regaining possession on countless occasions and smothering the supply lines to what, on paper, was a home attack brimming with menace.

Villa’s first shot of any description did not arrive until the 61st minute and, while Steven Gerrard was vexed at his players’ passiveness, their opponents barely allowed them to get going.

“It was a big one,” Arteta said. “We wanted to come here and play well first, which we did, and after get the three points. The team showed a lot of personality to play the way we play and come away with a win.”

They could have been a goal or two ahead before Bukayo Saka’s winner on the half-hour. Emile Smith Rowe, back in the team because of Gabriel Martinelli’s illness, shot over in the first serious attack while his former teammate Emiliano Martínez made a staggering low save to stop Ezri Konsa scoring an own goal at close quarters.

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka assumed total control of the midfield while Saka, who was unhappy with several Villa challenges, was frequently located in space on the right.

When he scored, though, Saka was lurking inside the D. A quick free-kick had led Cédric Soares to cross and when Xhaka headed back into a packed box Villa should have had enough manpower to clear. But Jacob Ramsey, dabbing out a leg, could only divert the ball into Saka’s path and it was returned with a low half-volley. Saka struck it well enough but Martínez, who would surely have done better had he not been unsighted, will not enjoy the replays.

Villa had been reduced to scraps. “We waited to go a goal behind,” Gerrard said. “We were too passive and respectful. We were second best and lacked belief in ourselves collectively. No complaints with the overall scoreline.”

They rallied but, even then, offered little sustained threat. Ollie Watkins’s shot, which deflected on to the outside of the near post off Kieran Tierney, was as good as things got although

Arsenal’s relief when Leno denied Coutinho at the end was palpable. Leno had not played in the league since August and will be required to help them see out much of their run-in now Aaron Ramsdale is out with a muscular injury. He will surely have tougher afternoons but here, with his injured teammate present to offer support, he did nothing wrong.

That more or less went for Arsenal as a whole, although Arteta thought they should have wrapped the game up earlier. Overall, his mood was one of satisfaction that, despite gripes over the scheduling, they had overcome a traditionally difficult hurdle. “I told you we would be ready,” he said.

At this rate, they look fit for the Champions League.