Well it was a much better start from Arsenal. As expected, Aston Villa started with a high tempo and tried to put us under serious pressure, which paid such dividends for Borussia Dortmund in the week. But the Arsenal players did not crumble under it this time and managed to pass and play our way around it.
The introduction of Cazorla certainly made a difference and Ozil was looking better, but Aaron Ramsey looked like the player of two seasons ago rather than the superstar of last season. It was a frantic first 15, though, and Arsene Wenger must have been glad to see his team stand up to it.
And then Rambo had a great chance from a corner but screwed it wide, which was typical of him this season. We were lucky to stay level about midway through the half when Clark failed to capitalise from a free kick, but Szczesny was in the right place to save it.
Ozil produced a peach of a pss on 25 minutes but Ramsey’s tpuch to Welbeck was woeful. I was really watching the German closely and he was slick, but he is not Ronaldo or Messi and if the players around him don’t match his ability he is not going to win you a game.
But our record signing got his reward with the opening goal after Welbeck, who had been impressive with his industry, played him through. And we hardly had time to celebrate before the roles were reversed and Ozil crossed for Danny boy to stroke him his first Gunners goal.
It never rains, they say, and when Cissokho put Gibbs’ cross into his own net, it was an absolute downpour from an Arsenal point of view.
The second half was all about making sure we did not give Villa a route back into the game and we did that well, showing grit and determination. But it was also great to see Ozil really enjoying himself and showing the class that we paid all that money for.
I thought that Wenger ight have turned to the bench, especially with Ramsey and Chambers on yellow cards and with players gagging for time on the pitch, but he left it until the 77th minute before bringing on Wilshere, Podolski and Rosicky. But I am certainly not going to moan about the Prof today, as Arsenal finally got the season off and running.