Arsenal Beat Aston Villa Highlights, Reclaims Top Spot in Premier League Schedule 2015-16

On Sunday, Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 victory over Premier League bottom feeders, Aston Villa. The result was enough to put them back atop the Premier League standings--at least, momentarily--a point clear of both Manchester City and Leicester City. The result comes on the heels of their dramatic midweek victory over Olympiakos in the Champions League, making for the type of week you only hear about in fairytales and Arsenal days of old.

After his hat-trick in Greece, Olivier Giroud, Arsenal's in form striker, put the Gunners ahead from the spot when he converted a penalty won by Theo Walcott. Seven minutes before halftime, Arsenal put the proverbial nail in the coffin with a second goal coming from a superb counter attack. It was the type of result Arsenal needed if they are to win the League title.

Make no mistake about it, Aston Villa is in poor form. Aside from being in last place, they haven't won a game in the league in 15 tries. To put that into perspective, they've only played 16 games. They're now 8 points back of the relegation zone, and look a certainty to be playing in the Championship next year (the second best league in England).

This is a Premier League season, unlike any other that we've seen in recent memory--it's incredibly wide open. There's no dominant Manchester United, or Manchester City. Chelsea, who looked like they were a clear cut favorite to repeat as champions, now look less convincing than a pair of chop sticks at a soup convention. And Leicester City, a team with not nearly the same means as those aforementioned, has a chance to go atop the league when they play Monday. Again.

Which is exactly what Arsenal needs. It seems as though every "top" team has taken a step back. Every top team, that is, except Arsenal. They've stayed about the same. The same Arsenal that we've grown accustomed to seeing for the better part of the last decade: mesmerizing performances one week, and befuddling displays the next. However, with the way the Premier League is shaping up, that just might be good enough this year.

For now, Arsenal are sitting pretty.