Second half goals from substitute Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey were enough for Arsenal to take all three points against Aston Villa this evening.
In a cagey game, the Gunners had David Raya to think after the Spaniard made an extraordinary stop from Ollie Watkins in the second half to keep the scores level, and they rewarded the goalkeeper’s quality by finding the goals required to win the game.
Here’s how the players rated this afternoon.
Read the Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal match report and see the goal here
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Marvellous
Yes, but Saka should be an 8/10. Always makes shit happen ❤️
Not a good ebening for Emery.
10/10 Benny Blanco blasting the ball back at that hideous runt, McGinn. After the goals, that was my most satisfactory moment of the game!
Loved Calafiori’s ‘presence’ on Martinez, and his ensuing feistiness.
Reckon we’ve got another tough cookie there.
We’re no push over anymore!
Calafiori is really interesting. His defensive actions are so well timed and he also looks for a teammate when he is clearing the ball. He also looked quite dynamic for his size, will be very useful in dominating his zones.
Love the bit where Saliba breaks free of a player, and he and his reinforcement take each other out.
Yeah, looked like another WWE script. Lovely stuff to watch.
McGinn is like that fat kid in school who would charge around the yard in games of tag trying to catch absolutely anyone but always ending up empty handed and red faced before finally retreating into his monster munch and doughnut filled extra large lunch box. Big lump.
That Ball Blast Ben, Rayas save and the late tackles I honestly celebrated them more than the goals
I love it too, but if you hate the wrong Ref, we gonna get a red card for nothing and might just cost us a season.
has somebody got a clip of that? i missed it!
https://x.com/now_arsenaI/status/1827393930729582615
Fantastic.
Benny Blanco exactly the man you would want to go to war with.
I hate say it because Martinelli has been my favorite player for 3 years, but Trossard starts.
Agreed. I love him, but his form has been dreadful. At this rate we’ll be signing Nico Williams and he’ll be gone next season…
Nice to be able to say that with an air of confidence eh 😉
I doubt Williams would perform any better than Martinelli. Martinelli has the hardest job by quite some distance in our team, especially as a right footer. He gets a lot of slow ball. He has no support runners, we never have anyone overlapping him on the outside taking or distracting the full back, which makes him easy to mark. His only passing option is often only to our left 8, which in this case is Rice, who often takes a very high position because of the lack of runners. We need more dynamism down that side because as things stand… Read more »
The thing is Trossard USUALLY tends to NOT make as much impact when he starts. It’s the greatest quandary of the 21st century. We have seen it happen over and over again.
You are so right.
Rubbish.
Depends on the game. Important not to underestimate the tireless running of Martinelli for an hour, wearing the fullback down. Trossard then offers something completely different.
I’d prefer the opposite. Trossard to break down the fresh team with better unlocking abilities. Martinelli on the 65th minute when they’re 1 or 2 down and pushing too hard and tired already
Martinelli has no end product though. Seems like he hit a ceiling a while ago and hasn’t been able to move to the next level.
Exactly – he’ll either over hit the cross or run the ball out of play. Never looks like scoring.
Agreed, but in my opinion it depends on the game, the opponent, home or away, many factors. Aren’t we lucky to have two fine players, each offering very different qualities, for the left wing position.
Partey was poor until the goal. His legs do look like they’ve gone now. Shame, as he’s awesome, when in full flow.
I musta Ben watching a different match Scotch
From what I saw, he was run away from several times, during the game. It’s like he doesn’t seem to have that acceleration in his legs anymore.
I think it’s something he has to learn to cope with , fair point he hasn’t pace of old so needs to improve postional and move ball quicker. But he’s hell of a player and will adopt and just needs to look at jorgi to see how he copes without pace . But as I say not a criticism just fact he’s got to adopt to his older legs
Agreed sir. He needs to adapt or he needs to be played with the same expectations as the manager has of Jiorginho. He’s not the box to box midfielder he was.
Merino, rice, ethan and Martin are our box to boxes . I wonder in away tough games could we double pivot rice with jorgi/parti but still play merino and Martin?
4-1-2-1 diamond type thingy
I wonder if the manager has considered switching him and Declan Rice. Rice seems like the more secure defender, Partey seems like the more creative passer. Not sure why Rice is playing further upfield than Partey.
nooo.
have to disagree..
he missed that one tackle but was mostly very progressive and intent on moving the ball forward. I thought it was a redeeming performance from him actually. Rogers was class anyone will struggle to contain him this season.
His play on the ball was excellent. I was mainly referring to his lack of a burst of peace, change of stride. Something that used to take him past other players or allowed him to get his foot in for a tackle.
The deepest midfielder cannot just be about creative passing. It’s useful, but the primary assignment is to shield the centre backs. Partey used to be better at that than Xhaka (Simeone’s coaching doubtless helped), but he’s really slipped on that front recently.
We probably didn’t see the same game then because I could count a number of times he put in tackles in front of our box or the progressive passes.
Trossard’s goal started with Partey’s pass forward.
He did that annoying thing he does too often when hoofing the ball from outside the box instead of playing it to someone else.
Partey is one of the few players who is willing to make a pin-point pass through a crowded midfield and break the press. His passes are mostly progressive and they create danger for the opponent most of the time
Trossard to start from this point on…
im a massive martinelli fan but i dont know why you are getting downvoted
If we get a new winger I think Martinelli is destined for right wing cover.
Are you serious. Look he’s not performing right now and Trossard should get the nod, but can we maybe cool it down a LITTLE bit with his first team Arsenal career being over chatter?
Maybe even as 9 cover , add unpredictability down the middle to open up certain games .
Without confidence he really can fo anything and think there’s a player in there to play cf
I suspect Merino might bring him back to life.
Rice doesn’t release the ball fast enough and this stifles Martinelli’s ability to run behind the defence. Declan has to always jog at least 10metres with the ball before he releases it, whereas Xhaka would control and immediately release the ball to allow Martinelli to run behind the defence.
A very good ebening indeed!
We needed to win this match!!
We ground it out. We rode our luck. Three juicy bank holiday points. Unbeaten team, unbreached defence. Bring on Brighton.
What brain?
10/10 for David Raya.
Earned us 2 clean precious sheets
David Raya is an amazing keeper! That save is world class!
Great win over the Tough Villa’s Villains. That Emile’s flappy hands reminded me of the one Fabiański let in years ago. Luckily Emile’s not playing for the Gunners anymore 👏
Wtf’s up with Nelli? He was playing against an 18 year old Serbian kid on his Premier League debut and didn’t go past him once.
Raya’s ‘world class’ save wasn’t as amazing as everyone is making it.
It was a poor header to be fair and all decent goalkeepers would have kept it out.
😑
🤡
It was absolutely world class. He got up so quickly and to not just save it at point blank range but to be able to get it away from the goal was pure brilliance! Other keepers wouldn’t have the reflexes to pull that off. In slow motion it looks an easy save but in real time it’s quite astonishing.
Lee, my friend. This is what’s wrong with the world. A chance to appreciate but you chose not to.
Bendtner(lord) save us!
Come on mate, what have you been smoking?
Save of the season by the end of the year especially if he touched the first one off the bar.
Still sad about Ramsdale arent you
Yeah, nah.
Sorry bud, I’m a keeper and I know how hard that spring from the floor is. Especially if you’re already off balance having pulled off a save. Amazing effort from Raya. Yes Watkins could have put it further right, but he didn’t and Raya pulled off a worldie.
Praying for you Lee, jeez
8 times out of 10, that header, in those circumstances, is a goal.
Get a grip, ya lemon.
What’s wrong with Little Gabi? His form has been so off for months now.
He hasn’t improved since he broke in to the team, still playing with his head down. Makes poor decisions on the ball. Martinelli and Partey are the 2 obvious players we should try to upgrade before the end of the transfer window.
The update to Partey will be Rice at 6 if/when merino signs and takes the left 8 position.
Think there’s a chance we play a double pivot, Rice on the left Merino on the right.
I didn’t follow that closely but I got the impression he actually did well with Brazil over the summer? If anyone here watched those games please share your impressions
He played very little, scored in one of the games before the tournament I believe. The only Brazilian forward who looked impressive to me was Raphina.
Oops, then I must have gotten the wrong impression. Or from preseason? Either way Richard is probably right, time for him to produce again in an Arsenal shirt. And I think he will, and I hope for us that he will because as much as I love Trossard, when Martinelli is firing on all cylinders he gives us something we just don’t have and terrifies opposing defenders in a way few players do.
Solid win, just would’ve liked to see Odegaard put the cherry on top. Nice to see ESR’s goal and Welbz sinking the clownshow.
With news that Barca are willing to sell anyone but Lamine, is a move for Lewandowski the worst idea? Probably but I have a champ manager brain and he’s still banging them in.
Great win. Get in lads.
I’ll get me coat
yeah we really need a 39 year old on huge wages
or reactivate wrighty?
In the past, we would lose these types of games. I’m loving the competitive spirit and determination displayed by the players.
Can anyone help me with the We’ve got Arteta lyrics.. what’s it evolved to now?
Raya, what a man
Blogs
I’m a bit taken aback with Juriens rating………..he’s back from an acl, he defends, he passes beautifully and he inverts………it’s a 10.
BTW……. I love this site…..I mite even join Patreon, but in the meantime . Saliba is a 10 as well😂😂😂
Dunno. I thought Timber was…ok? Fine? Didn’t bring what Z brings to possession and attack but admittedly more solid. Calafiori was fun to watch, much as an excited puppy is. Loved his instinctive defensive interventions.
Califiori was like an human Golden Retriever when he came on, he was loving it.
Definitely join the Patreon. We don’t have enough cranky folks there.
In rugby, that foul on Gabriel is called a high tackle. Karma Gods weren’t having it, sorry Ollie
I’m going to enjoy my beer more than McGinn will enjoy his today.
The one small difference is that McGinn will have a dozen bags of scratchings, a couple of pickled eggs and 3 bags of scampi flavoured fries, with his beer. The fat bastard!
Nice to see that the down-voting Spud who forms most of the minus 1 votes on here tonight feels he has to read our site to check on Premier League winners.
Apparently Harry Redknapp has been sent an electricity bill for £17000 – seems he was last one in the trophy room in 2008 and left the lights on and no-one noticed since.
If we are to be unbiased, players mirror each other position wise. Onana was more the player PArtey had to take care of, I didnt see him run the show. Rogers was a concern of the 8s, if he gets to run at Partey often, means the mistake was made way earlier. but i guess, agenda must agend
McGinn brought piss to a shit fight
Rode our luck today, not much clicked in the first half. Villa very well organised – Morgan Rogers looks like a talent, shame he’s at Villa with that oaf McGuinn.
We need a Trossard/Martinelli hybrid… Mossard ? Martinelli but with Trossard’s football intelligence !
Raya pulled off a great save against Wolves last week and a worldie today.. looks full of confidence.
Great win, only 36 to go.
Trossanelli.
I think your rating discounts what Martinelli did defensively. He was outstanding and started many of our breaks. Also, Timber didn’t offer as much as Zinny does offensively, he’s too slow and not confident (yet) to run into space. And, for me, Rice had his worst match in an Arsenal shirt. He looks like he needs a break. Maybe next week? Maybe takes the internationals off?
haha great name boomer gooner 😂and I agree about Dec. perhaps Merino arrival will allow him to have some time off at some point. Really important singing imo for this exact reason.
Even though they will both likely start it gives space for one of them to take a break if necessary.
Woofdah that Calafiori fellahs friggin big. Trossard another massive game, imperious on ever touch. Shame we couldn’t see McGinn collapse in sorrow on the pitch at the end of the match. Although I will gladly take a slow mo replay of his bacon filled midriff being rifled into by one Benjamin White.
Trossard is as cold as ice.😀
Martinelli isn’t going to make it.
I’m marking Benny down a point as he aimed for McGinns belly. If you’re gonna hurt a fat fuck, like him, aim for the face or throat and then watch him waddle across the pitch….like a fat kid, being teased by dragging a bag of donuts away from him.
Sorry but I am looking forward to Merino taking Partey’s place.
I am looking forward to Merino taking Partey’s place.
Sweet justice that Martinez fucked up for the second goal after lambasting the referee to book Partey after a Villa player ran into his head. What a prick.
Great to see Timber get the start and play well, really will be a great addition this season with his versatility and skill. Also nice to see Calafiori get some time, he really looks the part and had some really good moments in his brief spell.
Win the crowd, David. Win the crowd
iykyk
Win the crowd Spaniard, and you shall win your freedom.
California is a dick, if you see it from Villa’s perspective.
California is a state in the US, if you see if from anyone’s perspective.
Typo quite obviously. Maybe California is a good nickname .
ESR scoring on home debut ; 10/10
And Iwobi got on the score sheet. Fulham should change there name to Hale End FC.
Delighted for them both
I wonder how those ribs must be feeling this morning you cunt face.
Strange old game, that one… my left eye says comfortable win but then the right jumps in and says we burgled it with a bit of Raya brilliance and a lot of fortune? His reflex save was fantastic but Watkins really should’ve had 2 on the day…. We’re looking decent-ish – but big Gabi still seems to have the brainfart-itis from last season. We just cannot afford to let teams back into games the way we did previously and were very, very lucky that VIlla didn’t grab those gifts with both hands. Fast Gabi still looks… fast, but with the… Read more »
Calafiori is Sergio Ramos 2.0
Havertz missed a great chance at 0.0 which he really should have put away.
Once he starts taking those bread and butter sitters, then I’ll stop wanting us to sign an alternative number 9.