Premier League 2023-24 Match Ratings: Arsenal vs Aston Villa, Match 32

Arsenal faced off against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were fighting the become the league leader and displace Manchester City from the top position. Aston Villa had to win the game to stay in the top 5 race to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. They did exactly that by scoring two late goals against the home side. Leon Bailey scored the first goal of the game and then Ollie Watkins scored his 19th goal and with one of the most important of this season as he made a spectacular run from the middle of the park to put it past David Raya. 

Here are the Match ratings:

Arsenal

David Raya-5.5

He could not keep a clean sheet in one of the most important games. The keeper had a decent outing against Villa. However, he did not have to save much but the two shots that were on target were conceded by him.  

Ben White-5 

The English full-back did not have the best of outings as he was matched up with Nicolo Zaniolo, as the Italian got the better of him down the flanks. 

William Saliba-6

He was good at the back and had a good time stopping Watkins during the game he had a good matchup with him irrespective of the two goals conceded.  

Gabriel Magalhães-5

The Brazilian was late and rash on some occasions, however, he made some crucial interventions, but another messy game as he failed to track back to a counter when Watkins scored the 2nd goal of the match. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko-4

Zinchenko started the game decently as he helped the attack but as the match progressed his performance went down, as the visitors had a good time with the ball down his side. 

Declan Rice-5.5 

He did not find the right momentum in the midfield of the game and lost some key battles in the middle of the park. 

Martin Odegaard-7

Odegaard was the best performer for the side as the captain gave it all to open the scoring. He controlled the game in the attacking third and created some goal-scoring opportunities as well. 

Kai Havertz-6.5

He was brilliant in the first half of the game while playing in an unusual middle of the park he made some good runs inside the box creating some scoring opportunities but was denied. 

Bukayo Saka-6

Saka had a decent outing, as the winger form has gone down after the Bayern match. He was well-marked on the night and could not much of his curling shots from inside the box. 

Gabriel Jesus-5.5 

The Brazilian striker had the best of chances and troubled the Villa defence but he failed to capitalise on them and also did not convert the half chances as well. 

Leandro Trossard-5

Despite scoring the equaliser against Bayern, he could not perform in the game tonight he was not able to influence the game as he did in the UCL clash.  

Substitutions 

Jakub Kiwior-N/A

Fábio Vieira- N/A

Eddie Nketiah- N/A

Aaron Ramsdale- N/A

Emile Smith Rowe- N/A

Thomas Partey- N/A

Takehiro Tomiyasu-4.5

He was replaced by White, but neither he was solid in the back nor could help in the attack as the Villa made chances down the wing after White was substituted. 

Gabriel Martinelli-5 

He came in as a substitute but failed to create problems on the wings of Villa and was not at his best at the Emirates Stadium. 

Jorginho-N/A

Aston Villa

Emiliano Martinez-8.5

The Argentine was the main man for not letting Arsenal score on Sunday. He made some massive saves against his former club. He was brilliant and denied one sure goal-scoring opportunity for the home side.  

Ezri Konsa-6.5

He had some difficult times in the first half of the game dealing with Trossard at the right-back as was caught out from the position as well. But in the second half was more stabilised and confident. 

Diego Carlos-9 

Carlos was amazing in the back as he was calm and dealt with all the Arsenal attacks with ease without losing his composure and throughout the game he was brilliant with his defensive skills.   

Pau Torres-8 

The Spanish defender had a brilliant night alongside Carlos, he paired up exceptionally to block all the attacks of the Gunners. He also got a chance to score after he missed an open chance of scoring the goal from the cross of Lucas Digne.  

Lucas Digne-7.5 

The French full back was excellent all the game as he made some dangerous crosses from the left wing and one of them helped break the deadlock after it was followed up by Bailey.  

John McGinn-7

He was brilliant in the middle of the park as he played the role of the destroyer and helped his side win the second balls as well.  

Youri Tielemans-8.5

Tielemans was incredible throughout the game as the central midfielder dictated the tempo of the game and created the long ball for the counter attack which was met by Watkins to score the second goal of the game.  

Morgan Rogers-6.5 

He tried to make things happen for the visitors, but despite all his energy in the first half he could not carry the same momentum in the second and failed to create any goal-scoring chances. 

Nicolo Zaniolo-7.5 

Zaniolo was fantastic with his performance forcing White off for the game. Some moment he was dispossessed in the first half but came back strongly in the second and performed brilliantly. 

Moussa Diaby-5.5

Diaby was ineffective for the whole game as he could not create a single through ball or any crosses down the wing. The winger was unable to reduce the pressure and was subbed off.  

Ollie Watkins-8 

He continues to score as the striker scored his 19th goal for the season. He was highly unlucky not to score the opener as he drilled one ball onto the inside of the post and bounced out. 

Substitutions

Leon Bailey-8

He was amazing since he came off from the bench, as he broke the deadlock by meeting a cross of Digne. The winger had one job when he came in and he delivered. 

Matty Cash-N/A 

Alex Moreno-N/A 

Calum Chambers-N/A

Tim Iroegbunam-N/A

Kaine Kesler-Hayden-N/A

Clément Lenglet-N/A

Robin Olsen-N/A

Jhon Durán-N/A