Aston Villa player ratings as winning run ends in Premier League loss at Arsenal
Villa got walloped in the second half in north London and there could be some tense conversations at Bodymoor Heath this week
Aston Villa’s winning run came to an end thanks to a 4-1 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Villa produced an absolute pig of a second-half performance against the Premier League leaders. It was awful, not least when compared against the first half. It threatened to stray into disgraceful. But it needn’t define their season.
In their horrific cursed away kit, Villa attempted to play the game and not the occasion but Arsenal harnessed the narrative after going in front and put Villa away without much fuss. They were lifted by their first goal and Villa collapsed.
Villa’s manager and players learned a lot over the previous eleven matches. They should now learn as much from this one as those combined.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 4
Proficient with the ball at his feet and played a beautiful long pass to Jadon Sancho after half an hour. Comfortably fielded the game’s first shot on target from Leandro Trossard.
Handled the ball well from set pieces until Arsenal scored from a corner he should have been catching. He fluffed it because he’d distracted himself by getting involved with opponents. Where have we seen that before? Having a goalkeeper with an interest in the ball would have been helpful.
Lamare Bogarde - 5
Unfussy, unflustered and cool after replacing the suspended Matty Cash at right-back. I prefer him in midfield but he doesn’t lack defensive instincts and stuck to the task whenever threatened by Trossard. Reverted to a more central role after Villa’s substitutions on the hour.
Ezri Konsa - 5
Not willing to rush his passing without being pressed, highlighting his tactical discipline. No obvious faults but unable to lead the defence and team out of the hole they put themselves in during the second half.
Victor Lindelöf - 5
Another assured performance at right centre-back. Has a lovely knack of being in the right place but powerless to stop Arsenal with the wind at their backs in the second period.
Lucas Digne - 6
Calm presence at left-back in the first half, displaying the benefits of his vast experience at the highest level. Made a key defensive header in front of his own goal in the middle of the half.
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Amadou Onana - 6
Produced a bold, surging run into the box after ten minutes, ultimately winning a corner, and it wasn’t his last lung-buster. Picked up a couple of knocks late in the first half and had to be substituted at the break.
Mikel Merino is a braver and stupider man than me. And uglier. And older, by the looks of him.
Youri Tielemans - 6
Caught in possession very early on after a positive Villa start but generally tidy in possession. An important contributor when tracking back with Digne advanced on the left. Grew into the game and became a vital pivot in Villa’s passing.
Played an astonishing pass to Morgan Rogers in the first quarter of an hour. Substituted late.
Jadon Sancho - 5
Perhaps more willing than able when it came to defending on the right but always looking to get on the move when the ball was turned over in the Villa half. Forced William Saliba into evasive action with a fine ball across goal for Ollie Watkins on the stroke of half time.
Lost the key challenge that led directly to Arsenal’s second goal and was substituted with an hour played.
Morgan Rogers - 4
Got the weight wrong with his first pass in a key area inside an unusually quiet first 15 minutes, wasting a promising position for Villa. Crucial ball retention in a very dangerous spot just before half time helped to get Villa out of trouble.
Booked for standing over a free kick Arsenal took from five yards away from the foul. I’m sure the proximity of Mikel Arteta had nothing to do with it. Substituted late.
Emi Buendía - 5
First major involvement was a run through a wide-open midfield and he fed Ollie Watkins to get a shot away. Played some lovely little passes in tight spots and one fatal one that led to Villa going 2-0 down. Substituted with an hour played.
Ollie Watkins - 4
Battled hard and wound up Gabriel Magalhães from the start but seemed to struggle to connect with his teammates. Able to hold the ball up well when he was able to bring it in, offering Buendía especially a useful outlet in defensive situations. No impact after Arsenal found another gear in the second half.
Snatched at a fantastic chance in the 13th minute. Missed the target again a few minutes later. Scored a tap-in in stoppage time.
Substitutes
John McGinn (for Onana, HT) - On at half time for injured Onana. Quickly showed his ability to get turned in midfield. Missed a sitter. 4
Andrés García (for Buendía, 61) - Not over-awed on his return to action. 5
Donyell Malen (for Sancho, 61) - Barely noticed him until a tenacious and futile run that led to him hitting the post, leading to Watkins’ goal. 6
George Hemmings (for Rogers, 82) - Premier League debut off the bench. N/A
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba (for Tielemans, 82) - Premier League debut off the bench. N/A