Late goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Calum Chambers late strike helped 10-man Arsenal come from behind to beat Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
Villa took the lead on 20 minutes through Scotland midfielder John McGinn, with Brazilian striker Wesley putting them back in the lead barely two minutes after Nicolas Pepe had drawn Arsenal level from the penalty spot.
However, Arsenal, who had Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off just before the break after he picked up two yellows, drew level again through Chambers’ strike and then took the lead thanks to Aubameyang’s sensational late free-kick.
Arsenal had made one change from the side that capitulated against Watford last weekend, young star Bukayo Saka rewarded for his exploits in the Europa League with a start ahead of Mesut Ozil.
Saka create a chance for Maitland-Niles early on, but the defender skewed it wide and Villa would then threaten through both McGinn and Egyptian winger Trezeguet before the former Hibernian midfielder opened the scoring.
Anwar El Ghazi put in some good work from the left and no one picked up McGinn from his cross, allowing the Scotland international to fire the ball past Bernd Leno.
Arsenal continued to dominate possession in the opening 45 minutes but it was Villa who had the better chances, with Wesley seeing his shot saved and defender Tyrone Mings heading wide from a corner.
The Gunners were reduced to 10 men on 41 minutes as Maitland-Niles, who had been booked on 11 minutes, picked up his second yellow after a poor challenge on Neil Taylor.
Arsenal surprisingly took off Saka, who had been their best player in the first half, for Calum Chambers, and they eventually found a way back into the game on 58 minutes, when Bjorn Engels brought Matteo Guendouzi down in the area.
Ivorian winger Pepe dutifully converted the spot-kick but Villa were back ahead just two minutes later, Wesley firing home from six yards after Jack Grealish had demonstrated some excellent footwork to beat three men before squaring it to the Brazilian.
Arsenal brought on Joe Willock and Lucas Torreira as they chased the game but they only had wide efforts from David Luiz and Pepe to show for their efforts before Chambers drew them level from a corner on 81 minutes.
Guendouzi’s corner found the former Southampton defender at the back post and after beating one challenge, he fired home to level things up once again.
That goal spurred on the home side and their continued pressure was rewarded on 84 minutes when Belgian defender Engels brought down Aubameyang on the edge of the area and the Gabonese forward completed the comeback with a stunning strike that left Tom Heaton stranded.
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