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Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners secure huge Villa Park win
- Arsenal secured huge win at Villa Park on Saturday evening
- Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey on scoresheet in second half
- Mikel Arteta's second win over Unai Emery
Arsenal secured a crucial early season victory at the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season as they beat Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday evening.
A litany of stoppages prevented the contest from developing any sort of rhythm, although Arsenal wouldn't have minded the stop-start nature at Villa Park.
The Gunners had their moments in transition, with Bukayo Saka drawing a superb save from Emiliano Martinez, but it was the hosts who spurned the best chance of the opening period. After Gabriel. was picked off deep in his own half, Ollie Watkins placed his effort well wide of David Raya's post.
Level at the break ⚖️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 24, 2024
Let's keep pushing, Gunners! pic.twitter.com/gPXEaKrCKx
Villa moved through the gears at the start of the second half, and they should've opened the scoring through Watkins (again). However, Raya was on hand to deny the Villa striker after Amadou Onana's effort deflected off the bar.
The game seemed to be moving away from Arsenal as we moved past the hour, but the introduction of Leandro Trossard proved to be key. The Belgian clinically opened the scoring with his first touch against the run of play, and the Gunners started to enjoy themselves in the aftermath.
Thomas Partey added a second from the edge of the box having been teed up by Bukayo Saka, and while Villa offered a threat until the last, Arsenal cruised to a big three points at the start of the 2024/25 season.
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal player ratings
Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their victory in the West Midlands.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
David Raya (GK) - 8/10 - Arsenal can thank Raya for keeping them in the game. Raya made an incredible save to deny Watkins at 0-0. Always proactive from the restart.
Ben White (RB) - 7/10 - Kicked a ball at John McGinn, much to the joy of the fanbase, and wasn't tested too much on Saturday evening with Villa prioritising their attacks through Watkins or Leon Bailey.
William Saliba (CB) - 8.5/10 - The standout performer for much of the contest by a distance. Recovered superbly and was imperious when defending the channels
Gabriel (CB) - 6.5/10 - Should've been punished for dallying in possession in the opening period, but Watkins spared him. Didn't do much in the second half, but was steady.
Jurrien Timber (LB) - 6/10 - Looked a little rusty in this one. Drifted into midfield at times, but performed a more conventional left-back role. Wasn't dominant one-on-one.
Continued on the next slide...