Arsenal player ratings Vs Aston Villa as unstoppable Saka shrugs off rough treatment

Arsenal’s winless streak was broken as they clinched victory against Aston Villa in a dramatic finish, with Bukayo Saka being the standout performer.

 Despite trailing twice to goals from Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho, Unai Emery’s team managed to equalize through Saka and Oleksandr Zinchenko, leaving the game evenly poised with half an hour remaining. 

The match appeared to be heading for a draw until two late goals, including an own goal by Emi Martinez and another from Gabriel Martinelli, secured a 4-2 win for Arsenal.

Aaron Ramsdale – 7

He was nearly caught off guard early on as he held onto the ball for too long. He will probably be upset with himself for the second goal scored by Villa, as Coutinho deceived him with a fake move and he went the wrong way. However, he redeemed himself by making two crucial saves towards the end of the game to prevent Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran from scoring.

Ben White – 6

This Arsenal player was partly responsible for the team’s sluggish start to the game. He allowed Alex Moreno to get past him too easily, leading to Villa’s second goal. However, he was more active and energetic in attack during the second half of the match.

William Saliba – 5

The French player was outmaneuvered quite easily by Watkins for Villa’s first goal, as the striker simply dribbled past him. However, he improved and appeared more confident in the second half of the match.

Gabriel – 6

Compared to Arsenal’s other center-back, this player performed relatively better, but still did not have his best game of the season. However, he made a crucial tackle on Bailey towards the end of the match.

Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7

He struggled during the first half and was responsible for giving the ball away too easily, which led to Villa’s opening goal. However, he improved significantly after the break and even managed to score his first goal for Arsenal.

Martin Odegaard – 6

He had a difficult first half, but his performance improved as the game progressed. He became more influential and had a hand in the second Arsenal goal with an assist. However, he missed a clear-cut opportunity towards the end of the match when he had an open goal in front of him.

Jorginho – 8

He was given another start due to Thomas Partey’s injury and performed well despite the team’s initial struggles. He played a significant role in the team’s third goal.

Granit Xhaka – 5

Although he has been a standout performer for much of the season, the Swiss player did not have one of his best games on this occasion. He was unable to exert his usual influence on the game.

Bukayo Saka – 8 | Star player

The best player on the Arsenal team, he continues to impress even when the team is facing difficulties. He scored a well-executed goal during the first half and persisted in his efforts, despite being subjected to some rough challenges from Villa defenders.

Eddie Nketiah – 5

It was a challenging afternoon for the striker, as he struggled to hold the ball up and create opportunities for his teammates during the first half. However, he came close to scoring in the second half when he hit the crossbar and then missed a great opportunity to score. He did set up Odegaard for a glorious chance though.

Leandro Trossard – 6

Despite receiving his first Premier League start since joining Arsenal, the Belgian player did not make the most of the opportunity. Although he was tidy with his play, he failed to create significant problems for the Villa defense.

Substitutions

Gabriel Martinelli (Trossard 68’) – 7

Although he was dropped to the bench for the game, he was later brought on as a substitute and managed to score Arsenal’s fourth goal.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (White 79’) – N/A

Fabio Vieira (Xhaka 79’) – 6

He provided a good pass that set up Martinelli’s goal.

Rob Holding (Odegaard 90’) – N/A

Kieran Tierney (Zinchenko 90’) – N/A

Arsenal player ratings Vs Aston Villa as unstoppable Saka shrugs off rough treatment