EPL: Arsenal beat Aston Villa 2-1, go top of the table

Zee Media Bureau/Hemant Abhishek

New Delhi: Arsenal beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Monday to go back to the top of the English Premier League with 48 points, one above Manchester City. Arsenal scored twice in the space of 59 seconds in the first half and kept a tight leash as a resilient Villa searched for an equaliser after a Christian Benteke goal in the 76th minute. Jack Wilshere`s 34th-minute opener was quickly followed by a well-taken goal by Olivier Giroud, which proved to be enough to lift Arsenal back above Manchester City and Chelsea after their victories at the weekend. Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored his first goal since mid-September to give Villa hope in the 76th minute but the home side couldn`t find an equaliser despite late pressure. With their fourth successive league win, Arsenal reclaimed a one-point lead over City after 21 matches.