LONDON: Arsenal responded to midweek criticism with a 3-0 thrashing of Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday inspired by record signing Mesut Ozil.
Ozil scored one and created another for Danny Welbeck as the visitors struck three goals in four minutes before halftime to end the hosts’ unbeaten start in emphatic fashion.
The Germany midfielder produced a cool finish after 32 minutes from Welbeck’s pass, then returned the compliment as Welbeck opened his Gunners account. An own goal by Villa’s Aly Cissokho ended the game as a contest after 36 minutes.
Southampton’s impressive start to the season continued as they won 1-0 at Swansea City, who played more than half the match with 10 men after Wilfried Bony was red-carded.
Victor Wanyama’s 80th-minute goal moved Saints into second place with 10 points, two behind Chelsea who face champions Manchester City on Sunday and a point better off than Arsenal. Villa also have 10 points.
Newcastle United fans held up hundreds of posters calling for manager Alan Pardew to be sacked but two goals from Papiss Cisse enabled the home side come from two down against Hull City to draw 2-2 and move off the bottom.
A sensational Nikica Jelavic volley and a thumping strike from Mohamed Diame had put Hull in control.
Niko Kranjcar’s superb late free kick rescued a point for Queens Park Rangers in an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Stoke City and Burnley drew 0-0 at home to Sunderland.
Later on Saturday Liverpool are away at West Ham United. There was no sign of what was to come at Villa Park in the opening half an hour and it was the home side who almost struck first when Ciaran Clark’s header was superbly saved by Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
But Ozil, playing in his favoured role just behind striker Welbeck, lit the touchpaper for an exhilarating spell of football by the Londoners.
Welbeck played a perfect through ball and Ozil made no mistake with a cool side-foot finish. Ozil’s inviting cross was then struck high into the net by a relieved Welbeck, who wasted several chances against Dortmund in midweek.
Villa, who had not won any of their previous 15 home matches against Arsenal, were shellshocked and fell further behind a minute later when Cissokho diverted a Kieran Gibbs cross shot into his own net. “I’m particularly pleased to get off the mark. It was a good team performance,” Welbeck said.
“They had their chances but when we took our first one we looked in control of the game.”he added.