Three young stars of Nigerian descent unused subs in Arsenal's important 1-0 win at Aston Villa

Published: March 19, 2022

Arsenal pulled four points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand after an important 1-0 win over Aston Villa in a Premier League clash at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.

England international Aaron Ramsdale missed out on the matchday squad, paving the way for Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to be named on the bench as cover for Bernd Leno.

Manager Steven Gerrard picked two Anglo-Nigerian teenagers in Carney Chukwuemeka and Tim Iroegbunam in his matchday squad but the duo remained rooted to the bench for the entirety of the game.

Arsenal broke the deadlock on the half hour mark when onetime Nigeria Football Federation target Bukayo Saka fired home from the edge of the penalty area.

In the first half, Aston Villa offered nothing attacking wise and the closest they came to scoring was when they almost put through their own net but ex-Gunner Emiliano Martinez stopped that happening.

The Lions tried to pile up the pressure in the last fifteen minutes but Arsenal defended well and held on to three points.

Arsenal won for the fifth successive time away from home, the first time they have done so in seven years.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

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