Arsenal blow Aston Villa away

Arsenal 5 Aston Villa 0: For what seems an eternity, the underlying narrative at Arsenal has been they need to sign more players; but after a 5-0 victory over Aston Villa, it looks like being a rare stress-free transfer deadline day for Arsene Wenger.

Three fit-again players — Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott — who have missed much of this season through injury were the inspiration behind a win that moved Arsenal into the top five, six points behind second-placed Manchester City.

All three hit the net, along with a penalty from Santi Cazorla and a late fifth from Hector Bellerin, in a performance which barely required Wenger’s side to reach third gear. They did it without star striker Alexis Sanchez, without star midfielder Jack Wilshire and despite missing in-form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, first-choice right-back Mathieu Debuchy, captain Mikel Arteta and summer signing Danny Welbeck.