Football news - Ten-man Arsenal come from behind to beat Aston Villa in thriller

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished off a spectacular comeback for 10-man Arsenal against Aston Villa at the Emirates.

Arsenal started slowly and it wasn’t against the run of play when John McGinn gave Villa the lead. Unmarked, he guided home an Anwar El Ghazi cross after the Dutchman was allowed far too much time on the ball.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles then made Arsenal’s task even harder when he was sent off for a second yellow card before the break following a reckless challenge.

After half-time, Nicolas Pepe levelled from the penalty spot, but Arsenal were behind again less than two minutes later as Wesley finished Jack Grealish’s cross from close range.

Substitute Calum Chambers poked home another equaliser nine minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish, and Aubameyang duly stepped to be Arsenal’s hero, smashing a free-kick past Tom Heaton for his seventh goal of the season.

The win lifts Arsenal to fourth and means they capitalise on losses for Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United this weekend.

Arsenal get out of jail, but the same issues remain. After such an impressive win in Europe in the week, Arsenal took a step back here and it was the same old frailties rearing their heads once again. The defending ranged from lax to reckless, while the midfield was largely toothless and gave little support to the defence - and that’s a unit that really needs support. The fightback was commendable, but it should never really have come to that and Villa will rue their missed chances. Even at home against relegation-threatened opposition, Arsenal looked vulnerable pretty much all game and were second-best for large stretches. That must be a concern.

Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal). When the Gunners were down, he was the one payer driving the team forward and making things happen. Winning the penalty was the clearest example of this, while he also hit the post and was maybe his team's most creative player. He was far from perfect, and was at fault for the first Villa goal, but his never-say-die attitude was what Arsenal needed and he looked like a leader out there, while his more senior colleagues in midfield were taken off.

22’ - GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Aston Villa (McGinn). El Ghazi cuts in onto his right foot and bends in what looks like an innocuous cross, but no Arsenal defender deals with it and there is the onrushing McGinn to deftly poke the ball into the corner. Terrible defending, but a nice finish and Villa are ahead!

40’ - RED CARD! Maitland-Niles flies in on Taylor, getting the ball but then catching the Villa man on his reckless follow-through, and collects his second yellow card of the game. Arsenal down to 10 men and he can have few complaints.

58’ - PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Guendouzi goes into the box and Engels makes a stupid, clumsy challenge with his upper body. A clear penalty.

59’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa (Pepe). Pepe steps up and goes down the middle to score his first Arsenal goal.

61’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa (Wesley). Now they are back in front! Grealish does brilliantly down the left and crosses low for Wesley, who calmly slots home. What a response!

81’ - GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa (Chambers). Chambers heads a cross back into the danger zone, Mings fails to deal with it and it is Chambers who reacts quickest, poking the ball into the roof of the net!

84’ - GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa (Aubameyang). Aubameyang takes the free-kick and just hits it. No curl, he just picks his spot and blasts the ball into the corner, with Heaton helpless. The Gunners are ahead!

Arsenal: Leno 6, Maitland-Niles 4, Luiz 7, Sokratis 5, Kolasinac 6, Xhaka 5, Guendouzi 7, Ceballas 5, Pepe 6, Aubameyang 6, Saka 5. Subs: Chambers 6, Torreira 6, Willock 5.

Aston Villa: Heaton 6, Guilbert 7, Engels 4, Mings 6, Taylor 6, Nakamba 7, McGinn 7, Grealish 7, El Ghazi 6, Trezeguet 6, Wesley 6. Subs: Elmohamady 5, Hourihane n/a, Lansbury n/a.