Arsenal continued their winning start to the Premier League season as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park.
A battle between two of England’s Champions League representatives, the first half was a cagey affair. It was more of the same in the second, but Leandro Trossard came off the bench to open the scoring for Arsenal.
Thomas Partey made the win more secure, Arsenal’s eighth consecutive victory in the Premier League.
Here’s how the players rated at Villa Park:
Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez – 6 – Wasn’t tested too much in the first half but did produce a fantastic save to deny Saka. He denied Saka once again after the break, diving at his feet when the Englishman was played through. Was weak-handed in letting in Partey’s goal.
Matty Cash – 5 – Was an injury doubt going into the game after picking up a knock against West Ham last time out. Had to come off inside 15 minutes.
Ezri Konsa – 6 – Was definitely the stronger of Villa’s two centre-backs and generally dealt well with everything that was thrown his way.
Pau Torres – 6 – The Spaniard looked fairly comfortable holding Villa’s line up when faced up one-on-one, there
Lucas Digne – 7 – Had a battle on his hands against the triangle of White, Odegaard and Saka but did reasonably well. Things truly fell apart after he came off.
Amadou Onana – 7 – When Villa got him on the ball, Onana looked good. They didn’t get him on the ball too much in the early stages but he grew in the game. Brought control to Villa’s midfield that they didn’t have after he came off.
Youri Tielemans – 7 – The third piece of Villa’s very good midfield, Tielemans worked hard under pressure to battle his Arsenal counterparts. He attempted six tackles, more than any other player.
Leon Bailey – 6 – It looked like he’d be Villa’s second casualty of the evening as he went down after 20 minutes, but Bailey shook off the problem. He was a pest on Gabriel to turn over ball for Watkins’ chance, but wasn’t the most potent in attack. He did help cover defensively, though.
John McGinn – 7 – A fighter, sometimes literally, and Villa needed that in key areas. His exit was one of the moments that helped turn the game in Arsenal’s favour.
Morgan Rogers – 8 – Was by far and away Villa’s most dangerous attacking player. He toyed with the Arsenal midfield at times, turning Rice on multiple occasions with his close ball control and dribbling. Cute pass to set up Watkins’ chance.
Ollie Watkins – 4 – Missed two very good opportunities to put Aston Villa ahead, one in either half. First he scuffed his shot wide after Villa had turned the ball over high up the pitch. Then, early in the second half, Watkins saw his diving header saved with the goal gaping and Raya grounded.
Substitutes:
Kosta Nedeljkovic (for Cash 16) – 7 – In a battle against Martinelli, he did well considering he was thrown in from early.
Jhon Duran (for Watkins 65) – 6 – Put himself about, and was looking to link up with his teammates.
Jacob Ramsey (for McGinn 65) – 6 – Looked comfortable after coming in.
Ross Barkley (for Onana 76) – 5 – Didn’t have the same control that the man he replaced had.
Ian Maatsen (for Digne 76) – 5 – Did struggle slightly after coming on.
Arsenal
David Raya – 8 – Had very little to do in the first half but produced a world-class save shortly after the break to deny Watkins. That alone is enough to warrant this rating, given how important it proved to be.
Ben White – 7 – In a battle against Digne and McGinn and did well, with help from Saka and Saliba.
William Saliba – 8 – Won his personal battle with Watkins and his reading of the game is excellent. Prevented a Villa shot on goal having intercepted a pass from Rogers.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 7 – Took turns with Saliba to keep tabs on Watkins. But he did have a moment of panic as he was dispossessed on the edge of his box by Bailey in the first half.
Jurrien Timber – 7 – First start for Arsenal since opening weekend of 2023/24 season, when he suffered an ACL injury. Moving into midfield when Arsenal are on the ball and looked pretty good, all things considered.
Thomas Partey – 8 – Marshalled Arsenal’s midfield. Always seemed to be there to sweep up when Aston Villa tried to clear their lines, getting things going again. Scored Arsenal’s second.
Martin Odegaard – 7 – Linked up well with those on his side of the pitch, though he wasn’t as creative as some would have hoped him to be.
Declan Rice – 7 – Sat on Onana when Villa have the ball in the early stages. A runner, he did struggle against Rogers on a few occasions. It’s sometimes tough to mark Rice when he’s playing in this new role, which definitely hinders his strengths.
Bukayo Saka – 7 – Tested Martinez with a good shot in the first half and fluffed a very good chance after the break. It would have been ruled out for offside anyway, but Saka should have done better. Worked well to get the ball across the box for Trossard’s goal and picked out Partey perfectly to make it two.
Kai Havertz – 7 – Messed up a break after beat the offside trap perfectly. But he continues to grow in this role. He may not be the clinical striker Arsenal need, but his connection and link up play is crucial to Mikel Arteta’s game.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6 – Involved quite a bit and was Arsenal’s main running threat in the first half, without troubling the defence too much.
Substitutes:
Leandro Trossard (for Martinelli 65) – 8 – Put Arsenal ahead with his first touch, two minutes after coming on, having reacted quickest to a rebounded tackle. Absolutely changed the game for Arsenal, running Villa ragged.
