Arsenal win at Villa shows they're not desperate to add a forward -- but it'd be a huge boost

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Arsenal are leaving it late, but if they do end up signing a high-quality forward before the transfer window closes, they will be the team to chase in the Premier League title race. Their 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Monday was an advert for the Gunners' well-established physicality and control, enhanced by the confidence that comes with being reigning champions and a squad depth few of their rivals can match. Manager Mikel Arteta started with one midfield here and ended with another. Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Odegaard were replaced by Bruno Guimarães, Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi as Arsenal slowly strangled the life out of Villa after Bukayo Saka's 59th-minute match-winning strike. The goal was a moment of high quality. Facing Villa's well-organised deep defence, Eberechi Eze (on as a half-time substitute) played a smart pass to find Riccardo Calafiori as he came alive in the box, racing to the byline before firing the ball across for Saka to convert from close range. Saka's match-winner follows on from a goal against Coventry -- his first time scoring in back-to-back Premier League games since November 2024 -- and it bodes well for the challenges ahead. And yet, there is a reason Arsenal have spent the summer courting Vinícius Júnior, thinking about Bradley Barcola and waiting in the long grass as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid angrily contest the future of Julián Álvarez. It is difficult to escape the sense that, as good as Arsenal clearly are, a little stardust sprinkled on this forward line could be transformative. The transfer window closes on Tuesday night, giving the Gunners one more day to find the last piece of their attack. They have been offered Malick Fofana at Lyon partly because those operating in the market know Arsenal's need is genuine. Christos Tzolis has made a bright start since a £34m move from Club Brugge but he was substituted at half-time here following a peripheral showing which featured one yellow card and perhaps a little fortune not to receive another as he twice stopped Villa counter-attacks. Kai Havertz endured one of his more frustrating evenings yet Viktor Gyökeres -- the striker signed last summer from Sporting Lisbon as an upgrade -- was once again an unused substitute for the second consecutive match. Reports in Spain continue to suggest he could be used as a makeweight in any deal with Atletico for Alvarez. Either way, Gyokeres will be relieved when the window is shut. While Arsenal's overall performance is unlikely to win style points, it felt like a step forward due to the fixture itself. Arsenal were beaten here at Villa Park last season in dramatic fashion -- Emi Buendia scoring a stoppage-time winner -- as a team robbed of first-choice centre-backs Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba were worn down by Villa's relentless persistence. There was never any real sense of a repeat this time, even as Villa kept at it. They well organised as you'd expect under coach Unai Emery, but bereft of the clear attacking patterns they usually exhibit. Villa had seven shots all game, but none requiring a save from goalkeeper David Raya. After falling behind, they only attempted three shots. Villa are now the second team in the last 20 years to fail to have a shot on target in their first two Premier League matches in a season, along with Swansea City in 2017-18, a team that was later relegated that season. One obvious explanation for Villa's deficiencies is found in the club's summer exodus -- which included Ezri Konsa joining Arsenal and making his debut on Monday against his former side. The other, of course, is the Gunners continuing their form as the best defensive side in Europe. Against Villa and Coventry, Arsenal faced just 11 shots and allowed the lowest expected goals (0.52) of any side across the opening two rounds of Premier League games. "One goal is normally enough for us because we're so solid at the back," said Saka succinctly. Villa's lack of cohesion in attack is readily explained and centre-forward Nicolas Jackson may well have been short of match fitness, starting just three days after completing a £65m move from Chelsea. But Arsenal exuded composure, leading to a very satisfied verdict from Arteta, especially given the defeat here last December -- memorable for the players shattered in a heap as Buendia struck -- was far from forgotten. "It was still in my tummy and I spoke to the players about it," said Arteta. "That image when the players were on the floor, totally battered, it was a really difficult one to take. We used that to bring energy, to bring more conviction on the pitch, to understand the difficulty of the challenge that we had ahead, especially against a team that was so successful last year and then they lost a few days ago in a really big way [4-0 at Brighton]. "You expect that reaction. And it's a stadium, it's a really difficult one, big matches, and they make those moments count. And today we have to suffer, we did suffer, and we have to be really dominant, and we were, so I'm really pleased. "It was very different. And that shows our maturity, that shows the strength that we have in the players, we changed momentum, and to understand what the game needed, and we brought our own leadership in the team. People really can hold the ball and have really dominating spells through the ball and in duels." Arsenal clearly have what it takes to challenge for the Premier League title again: the maturity, the mentality, the physicality and a best-in-Europe defence. But Arteta was also willing to engage in the debate over whether Arsenal would have enough variation in attack without one more addition. "It depends if everybody's fit or not," he said after the match. "We can talk about today, but that scenario might change. We knew that with Willy [Saliba] out -- we had an injury in the back line -- we knew we were in big trouble, so we had to do Ezri [Konsa, from Villa]. And today, [Cristhian] Mosquera, he could not continue. So we know that the depth has to be really big when you're fighting for four competitions, in the manner that we play as well. So we're going to try to do that. "We are trying to improve the squad, and until tomorrow night we're going to try to do that. I've been disconnected from the world for 24 hours, because I think my energy and focus has to be on the match, and I will get back on it now." There should be no sense of panic given Arsenal's overall position. But the clock is ticking.