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Premier League champions Arsenal continued their winning start to the season with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa thanks to Bukayo Saka’s close-range strike.

In a game of few chances, Saka’s poked finish from Riccardo Calafiori’s cross broke the deadlock in the 59th minute — the first attempt on target from either side.

Shortly before the goal, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Saka was bundled over by Ian Maatsen, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review, as replays showed the contact was outside the area.

For Villa, this was a significant improvement following their opening-day 4-0 thrashing against Brighton & Hove Albion, but they are still pointless after two matches.

The game finished just over 24 hours before the transfer window closes. So, will it have changed either manager’s plans? And what else did we learn?

Amy Lawrence and Jacob Tanswell analyse the key talking points.

Was this more evidence that Arsenal have work to do in attack?

The list of coveted attackers Arsenal have monitored is well documented. In a slow and stodgy first half, it was blatantly obvious why the idea of signing Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez has been so prominent in Mikel Arteta’s thoughts.

With a day of potential transfer activity left and the exits of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus expected to be confirmed, the burden on new winger Christos Tzolis looked heavy. This was a far more challenging introduction to the Premier League than a sunny showing at home to Coventry City last weekend. Aggressive tackles, some attention from the referees, and a cheap booking meant he was replaced by Eberechi Eze at half-time.

The left wing might not be Eze’s favoured posting, but he was influential in breaking the deadlock. He waited in a dangerous space, progressed a move quickly to Calafiori, and Saka burst in to score.

Martinelli, Jesus and Leandro Trossard made a total of 130 appearances last season, registering 45 goal contributions (25 goals plus 20 assists). Will the combination of Tzolis and Eze on the left, with Max Dowman probably playing more, fill that gap?

Unless Andrea Berta pulls a rabbit out of a hat, Arsenal are pinning their hopes on greater fitness and productivity from the players they have to defend their title. The notion that the team could be freed up, now that the pressure of winning the league has gone, came up against a bit of a reality check against Villa’s hunger and organisation. This season won’t be a cakewalk.

Amy Lawrence

How did Villa’s debutants do?

Unai Emery gave two players at opposite ends of the pitch their debuts, with goalkeeper Suzuki making his first appearance following the departure of Emiliano Martinez to Chelsea at the weekend and Nicolas Jackson coming in up front.

Suzuki was immediately assured and authoritative, spraying a lofted diagonal pass to Maatsen in the early stages. After that, Villa’s central defenders trusted the Japan international when trying to break Arsenal’s press, playing back to him from goal kicks. This was in the hope of drawing out Arsenal’s front line, before playing darting balls over the top for either Villa’s full-backs or wide players, namely 19-year-old George Hemmings, who threatened with a dangerous cross after receiving the ball from Suzuki.

It was a good start from Suzuki — and he made a fine second-half save when he spread himself wide to thwart Kai Havertz, who was through one-on-one. There was little he could do about Saka’s goal.

Jackson signed on Friday and has only had a handful of training sessions to get up to speed. Villa lacked punch going forward, but Jackson worked hard and was sharp, constantly peeling off into the left channel as his predecessor, Ollie Watkins, would do. It was a performance to build on, especially when players behind him also start to be integrated.

Jacob Tanswell

Could midfield depth be Arsenal’s biggest strength?

Bruno Guimaraes was a calming influence when he came on in the second half (Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s midfield should be their superpower. It was interesting (not to mention a little concerning) to observe how the first-choice selection of Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Odegaard was below par from the start, not as dominant or controlling as they would wish to be.

With such high-calibre options in reserve, Arteta could switch all of them, introducing marquee signing Bruno Guimaraes and World Cup winners Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi to shore up the game. That’s an abundance of experience.

Guimaraes’ smart forward passes were impressive, a sign of how much emphasis might fall on him to adjust the speed and precision of Arsenal’s build-up play. The more he gets to develop relationships with his new team-mates, the more they will look to him to create opportunities.

Protecting slender leads was one of the issues Arsenal had to contend with in their pursuit of the title. It certainly helps to have multiple options to try to exert control over the midfield heartland.

Amy Lawrence

What did this tell us about Villa and deadline day?

Villa will strengthen on deadline day with the signings of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ibrahim Mbaye, which should add firepower to Emery’s squad, particularly when you consider the other players soon to feature, including Leon Goretzka, Brian Madjo and Johan Manzambi.

Villa could ideally do with another No 10, just to offset the sheer volume of chance creation and goals they lost over the summer with the departures of Morgan Rogers and Watkins. Combined, the pair were worth 46 per cent of Villa’s goals last term. Another striker, in the event Tammy Abraham leaves on deadline day, would help with taking the burden off Jackson.

Yet this was a performance where a below-strength Villa showed encouraging signs of gelling after an extremely tumultuous summer. They will surely get better with time and matches, with the new-look core of the team establishing on-field partnerships.

Jacob Tanswell

What next for Arsenal?

Sunday, September 6: Chelsea (home), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET

What next for Aston Villa?

Saturday, September 5: Hull (away), Premier League, 5.30pm UK, 12.30pm ET