Pain in the Arsenal
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Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal: Player ratings from thrilling win at Villa Park

By James Cormack

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Jorginho of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on February 18, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Jorginho of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on February 18, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal secured a vital three points in ridiculous fashion at Villa Park as an Emi Martinez own goal in stoppage time helped them to a 4-2 win.

The Villans seized upon their vulnerable visitors and took an early lead through the in-form Ollie Watkins, but Bukayo Saka quickly restored parity for Arsenal with a thumping effort from inside the area.

However, a woeful defensive sequence from the Gunners allowed Villa to restore their lead before the break as Philippe Coutinho rounded off a flowing move to score his first Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal’s deficit rendered the second half critical, and for a while, it didn’t look like it’d be the Gunners’ day. That was until Oleksandr Zinchenko struck from a smartly worked short corner routine to peg the hosts back for a second time. The Ukrainian’s effort was pinpoint.

Zinchenko’s strike set up a grandstand conclusion, and the two sides certainly didn’t disappoint. Chances arrived at both ends of the pitch and the Gunners snatched a vital winner at the death in ludicrous fashion. Jorginho’s strike from the edge of the box was converted into his own net via Martinez’s head after the Italian’s effort cannoned off the crossbar.

Wow.

There was then time for Gabriel Martinelli to put the icing on the cake and sweeten the scoreline for the visitors in what could prove to be a season-defining victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from Villa Park.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Oleksandr Zinchenko scored his first Arsenal goal. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images)
Oleksandr Zinchenko scored his first Arsenal goal. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – Villa’s goals were of the highest quality and there was little Ramsdale could do. Made a big save from Leon Bailey in the closing stages.

Ben White (RB) – 7/10 – Caught out positionally for Villa’s second goal. but White got forward really well in support of Saka. Delivered with quality, too.

William Saliba (CB) – 7/10 – Saliba shackled Watkins pretty well after being beaten by the England international in the opening exchanges.

Gabriel (CB) – 6.5/10 – Wasn’t Gabriel’s busiest outing, but he made a huge challenge to prevent Bailey with ten minutes remaining.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 7.5/10 – That was some way to score your first Arsenal goal. Thought he was excellent in the second half.

Continued on the next slide…