Arsenal scored two goals in less than a minute to take control of their match against Aston Villa this evening, going into the halfway stage with a 2-0 lead.

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The first chance of the match fell to the visitors after just five minutes when Olivier Giroud latched onto a Bacary Sagna cross, but he skimmed his header just wide of the far post.

Villa's first sight of goal came eight minutes later when the ball fell to Fabian Delph on the edge of the box, but he could only drag his powerful low effort wide.

The hosts had another good opportunity midway through the half as Arsenal failed to track Karim El Ahmadi's run into the box. However, the midfielder side-footed a cross over the bar from a good position.

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The Gunners broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Nacho Monreal picked out Jack Wilshere on the edge of the box, and the England midfielder was allowed time to take a touch before picking out the bottom corner with a well-placed shot.

It was 2-0 within 17 seconds of the restart as Wilshere turned provider this time and found Giroud, who expertly finished into the bottom corner from inside the box to complete a whirlwind minute for the visitors.

Villa could not respond in the final 10 minutes of the half as Arsenal took a comfortable lead into the break and look like regaining their spot at the top of the Premier League table.