Saka sends Arsenal closer to Champions League return

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring against Aston Villa on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images

Arsenal took another big step towards ending a five-year exile from the Champions League as Bukayo Saka's strike beat Aston Villa 1-0 to open up a four-point lead in fourth in the Premier League.

The Gunners could even increase that gap with a game in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United and were well worthy of the three points against a toothless Villa despite the narrow scoreline.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had complained about the tight turnaround his side faced after Wednesday's 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool. That defeat ended a five-game winning run and there was no sign of tiredness from the visitors in the early stages. Emile Smith Rowe returned to the starting line-up as one of two changes as Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale missed out through illness and injury respectively.

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