Arsenal - Aston Villa live updates

Foul by Coquelin on Gil gives Villa a free kick in a dangerous area but Arsenal clear the danger.

Olivier Giroud scored in the eighth minute – he scored in the sixth minute here last season, before Villa mounted their comeback.

Again Villa at sixes and sevens with Bellerin’s cross causing mayhem in the Villa defence. Somehow they scramble clear.

STAT: The Gunners have now scored at least one goal in 17 consecutive PL home matches. Their last longer scoring streak at home was between April 2007 and November 2008: 29 matches.

Just the start Villa didn’t need. A real test now as Arsenal attack again but it’s far too intricate. Could have easily been a second with three against one momentarily.

GOAL Arsenal! A lovely touch from Ozil puts the striker through and he delays his shot before beating Guzan and putting his side ahead. That’s his fifth goal in six.

Richardson looks for Benteke with a curling cross but it’s well watched by Ospina, who claims comfortably.

Lovely play from Arsenal ends with Monreal teeing up Ramsey for the shot and it’s just wide of a flying Guzan.

Ozil playing further left than Cazorla today, who has made that central spot his own with some impressive recent performances.

STAT: David Ospina has kept a clean sheet in his last three matches for Arsenal. Wojciech Szczesny has not kept a clean sheet for the Gunners in 10 matches.

Cazorla takes Arsenal’s first corner but Hutton able to head clear. Confident start from the home side. Ominous for Villa.

Walcott almost through on goal but it’s a great challenge from Okore to prevent him from getting his shot on goal. Corner.

Referee Anthony Taylor blows the whistle to get us underway here. Villa in desperate need of goals whereas Arsenal could leapfrog north London rivals Spurs with victory.

FIVE MINUTES TO KICK-OFF: Arsenal (1/4), Draw (11/2), Aston Villa (14/1).

TEN MINUTES TO KICK-OFF: Aston Villa have gone eight hours and 42 minutes of Premier League football since they last scored.

Olivier Giroud is currently in a rich vein of form and may be a handful for the Villa defence today, especially with the distribution he is likely to receive. He has scored four goals in his last five Premier League appearances.

STAT: Arsenal have scored five goals in their last two Premier League games against Villa, all between the 32nd and 36th minutes.

Here's an interesting stat. Chelsea and Man Utd (12 each) are the only visiting team to have earned more points at the Emirates Stadium than Aston Villa (11) in the Barclays Premier League (W3 D2 L3).