• Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal

Welbeck off the mark as Arsenal run riot at Villa

Danny Welbeck calmly slots home to open his Arsenal account © Getty Images

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Danny Welbeck scored his first goal for his new club as Arsenal scored three goals in three first-half minutes to deny Aston Villa the chance to go top of the Premier League.

Welbeck, who moved to the Emirates from Manchester United for £16 million on deadline day, latched on to a Mesut Ozil pass to open his account - less than 60 seconds after the same pair combined for the German to open the scoring.

Aly Cissokho then diverted Kieran Gibbs' cross into his own net as Arsenal's quick-fire trio was timed at just three minutes and 12 seconds.

Match Analysis

• Man of the match: Under-fire Mesut Ozil answered his critics with a brilliant display, including a goal and an assist.
• Villain: It has to be poor old Aly Cissokho who, just as his team needed to respond to conceding two in quick succession, decided to fire past his own goalkeeper and giving his team no chance.
• Key moment:All eyes have been on Danny Welbeck since his £16m move from Manchester United - and that first goal for his new club will be a huge weight off his shoulders.
• Alex Perry

The result means Arsenal and Chelsea are now the only unbeaten teams in the Premier League as Arsene Wenger's men move into the top four.

The hosts would have replaced Chelsea, who face Manchester City on Sunday, at the top of the table with a win but despite a bright start they were carved apart as they slipped to their first defeat of the season, in front of watching chairman Randy Lerner - his first home game for almost two years.

Ashley Westwood pulled out of the Villa squad during the warm-up with a virus and was replaced by Carlos Sanchez, with Joe Cole added to the bench.

Arsenal made three changes from their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Calum Chambers came in.

Out went Jack Wilshere, Hector Bellerin and Alexis Sanchez - despite the Chilean initially being named on the team sheet, and Villa took advantage of Arsenal's overall indecisiveness as they made a strong start.

Fabian Delph forced Wojciech Szczesny into a low save after just two minutes following the goalkeeper's poor clearance.

Welbeck fired over in response but Arsenal were given little time to settle by a vibrant Villa side.

Alan Hutton nodded over on 17 minutes as Villa continued to carve out the best chances - and they should have taken the lead five minutes later.

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Chambers was booked for bringing down Gabby Agbonlahor and Clark met Tom Cleverley's delivery at the far post, only to be denied by a point-blank save from Szczesny.

But the Gunners stunned Villa with three quick-fire goals to win the game.

The hosts had been edging the contest but collapsed suddenly, starting when Welbeck teed up Ozil to run through and coolly roll past Brad Guzan for his first goal of the season on 32 minutes.

Then the World Cup winner repaid the favour when he crossed from the left and Welbeck smashed in from four yards.

Villa were shell-shocked and they were bypassed again on 36 minutes when Gibbs' cross was turned in by the sliding Cissokho.

Aaron Ramsey then shot wide with Villa dazed.

While the half-time scoreline was harsh on the hosts, the Gunners had taken control and Guzan claimed Welbeck's effort soon after the break.

Clark had a chance to haul Villa back into the game on 57 minutes but was thwarted by Oxlade-Chamberlain - after Ramsey needlessly conceded a corner.

Villa's threat had waned though and Arsenal were in cruise control as they eased to victory.

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