There is hope Thomas Partey will be fit enough to return for Arsenal’s visit to Leicester next Saturday. The Ghanian’s return to action can’t come soon enough for Mikel Arteta.
The euphoria of Jorginho’s last minute winner here at Villa Park will go a long way towards disguising the Gunners’ deficiencies without their influential lynchpin - as will the fact Partey's direct replacement in the team bagged the decisive goal.
But when the emotion of this crucial three points eventually simmers, Arteta shouldn’t be hoodwinked.
For large sections of this scintillating encounter, Arsenal were a shadow of what we’ve come to expect without the man who holds it altogether.