A comfortable 2-0 win at Villa Park on Sunday was a cause for celebration, as strikes from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey sent Arsenal top of the Premier League.

Without starting particularly well, Arsenal found themselves with a huge chance to take the lead after just seven minutes.

Stepping up the the penalty spot, just as he did in Greece on Wednesday, Olivier Giroud made no mistake. His 50th Premier League goal for Arsenal and his 14th of the season in all competitions.

Controlling the ball against a weak Aston Villa side, Arsenal kept the hosts at bay without threatening all too often. After a big effort was exerted in midweek, this is exactly the kind of game Arsenal would have wanted.

in the 38th minute, Aaron Ramsey scored his second goal in as many Premier League games from centrre-midfield to double the lead. Winning the ball just outside the Arsenal box, the Welshman launched a break which saw wonderful passes from Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil leave Ramsey with a simple tap-in.

With the second half underway, Villa were suddenly more lively. A laid back Arsenal side seemed surprised to suddenly be in a match, and the home team went closest with Scott Sinclair heading over before Leandro Bacuna curled an effort just too high.

A flurry of corners and the substitution of Carles Gil couldn’t bring Villa back into the game, while Arsenal only had the occasional attack at the other end, but those invariably broke down anyway. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, fresh off the bench, twice launched a dangerous attack only for Brad Guzan and his defenders to force the ball out for a corner.

Adama Traoré and Aaron Ramsey could’ve added one more goal at either end before the final whistle, but neither effort would have changed the result. A simple win for Arsenal was already in the bag.

Far from a classic and not too memorable, but Arsène Wenger won’t care. Another win, and Arsenal are top of the table.