Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa: Saka secures huge 1-0 win

Arsenal bounced right back from midweek and took another huge stride towards the top four as a first half goal from Bukayo Saka was enough to secure a 1-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta’s side were facing arguably their toughest test of the season in the division with Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off being their third game in six days, and coming just 63 hours after the side kicked off in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday.

Expecting changes to the side on account of the short turnover time, what wasn’t expected that was both Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale would miss out through injury.

That meant Emile Smith Rowe took his place out on the left, with Bernd Leno starting in goal for his first league appearance August.

Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa as Bukayo Saka’s first half goal secures a crucial 1-0 win in the Premier League top four hunt

It was a commanding start from Arsenal who nearly took the lead inside the opening few minutes when some clever build-up play ended with Emile Smith Rowe bending an effort just over the bar.

Maintaining their foothold on the match with a professional display, all that was needed from the visitors was a goal. That would come via the left boot of Saka, who fired a fine half volley low beyond Emiliano Martinez.

Watkins hit the post for Villa as the hosts started to up the tempo, while Lacazette also saw a shot blocked when he should have fed the onrushing Odegaard to his right.

It ended up being far tighter than desired as Holding even came on to sit in a back five, but Arsenal were well worth the three points as they take another huge step towards the Premier League top four.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 7/10 – Well done, Bernd. It is not easy to come in for Ramsdale at any time, let alone when your last Premier league outing was way back in August. Was clean on deliveries and vocal throughout. His kicking wasn’t great, at all, but he did the important parts well.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 8/10 – Tasked with dealing with Emi Buendia down that side it was a game for focus for Cedric as he needed to stay vigilant for the long balls Villa sought to hit down the channels. He defended his right side expertly, and showed neat technical ability in tight spaces.

Benjamin White (CB) – 9/10 – Villa were constantly looking for the ball in behind to Watkins given Arsenal stifled their build-up play, and that left White having a lot to aerial and in the duels. All afternoon to stood firm to the challenge and kept Watkins in check.

Just before the international break he didn’t put a foot wrong.

Gabriel (CB) – 8/10 – A solid game for Gabriel on the ball, who played down the line well and was tidy with all aspects of his game, whether holding the line or dropping off to cover spaces. In the air let nothing pass, either.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 8/10 – Matty Cash was kept pinned back well by Smith Rowe and Tierney, who kept up high to limit Villa’s out ball.

There wasn’t as much bombing forward from him but he fed the ball down the line well and his play in the triangles was neat and tidy, but it was his last ditch moments, like headers in the box, that were most important. Some huge interventions.

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Midfielders

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 8/10 – Villa saw that link between Odegaard and Saka as the strongest in the Gunners team, aiming to keep it tight in those areas. Despite that, the Norwegian still glided across the pitch an fed some lovely balls through the lines and in behind, keeping Arsenal flowing through the thirds with his delightful weight of pass.

Played his way out of tight spaces so smartly, relieving crucial pressure on the team.

Thomas Partey (DM) – 9/10 – Excellent once again in the middle of the park, the best word to describe Partey’s performance is ‘clean’. He almost never gave the ball away and always showed for a pass, even showing some twinkle toes with a few clever flicks beyond his man to charge into space.

Dropping world class performances every week.

Granit Xhaka (AM) – 8/10 – Got handed a stupid yellow card for no reason other than the referee thinking ‘it’s Xhaka’.

In terms of his performance he played some lovely one-touch football in tight areas, the like you don’t normally see from him, and it played its part in some elegant build up play. Was physical throughout and won plenty of second balls.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 8/10 – He’s not just one of Arsenal’s best players, he’s one of the best players in the Premier League. This young man is an outstanding talent demonstrating it week upon week, even when he’s being hacked to pieces by rotational fouling every game.

Outstanding strength and courage, and took his goal expertly, with the remarkable number of fouls on him taking its toll as he was taken off with just over 20 minutes to go.

Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 5/10 – Wasn’t Lacazette’s day today. His touch was off and he didn’t pass the ball as crisply as needed. Still, his role of being physical, occupying the centre-backs and making the spaces in behind for Saka were key.

But, when the big moment came, he opted to shoot instead of laying the ball off to Odegaard in a much better position. A poor mistake.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) – 7/10 – Really silky return to the team for Smith Rowe who added some sharpness down the left hand side for a team that had been put through their paces across the last six days.

Showed some excellent movement throughout and ran his socks off.

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Substitutes

Nicolas Pepe – 5/10 – Was the target of long balls as Arsenal sought to bypass the Villa high press, while off the ball he was constantly on the move and looking to force his side up the pitch.

Got an earful from is manager for some poor defensive positioning.

Eddie Nketiah – 3/10 – Not much of an impression for Nketiah who even amusingly slipped in the box when played in. All he needed to do in this game was run. He didn’t.

Rob Holding – N/A – Low Block Holding fulfilling his new niche in this team.