Saka stars however substitutes wrestle in Aston Villa vs Arsenal participant scores

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal strengthened their grip on 4th place with a cushty 1-0 win over Aston Villa at a sun-bathed Villa Park.

Arsenal dominated the primary half, however headed into the interval with simply the one-goal benefit because of Bukayo Saka, whose strike after half-hour flew via a collection of our bodies and previous Martinez from outdoors the realm.

Bukayo Saka strikes for Arsenal 🔥

That’s double figures by way of targets this season as he provides Arsenal the lead at Villa Park! pic.twitter.com/paOIYCiUj3

— Soccer on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 19, 2022

It in the end proved decisive nonetheless, as Arsenal managed the sport for a lot of the second half however couldn’t discover a second objective, earlier than weathering a late storm from the Villians on their technique to selecting up a large three factors of their hunt for a prime 4 spot come the tip of the season.

Participant scores

Emiliano Martinez – 6

One sensible response cease from a deflected cross within the first half. May maybe have performed extra with the objective however noticed the shot late. Was tidy in any other case.

Matty Money – 5

Was fortunate to flee a yellow card for a collection of fouls, however did a great job of protecting a lid on Emile Smith Rowe down the Arsenal left. Couldn’t become involved within the remaining third.

Ezri Konsa – 6

A stable however unspectacular efficiency from Konsa. Didn’t do an excessive amount of fallacious however was relieved to see Martinez preserve out a cross that took a deflection off him early within the first half.

Tyrone Mings – 5

Was sloppy in possession and it was this that noticed him booked within the first half for a comply with via on Saka. Struggled to deal with the Gunners within the first half.

Ashley Younger – 4

Was run ragged by Bukayo Saka within the first half. Lots of Arsenal’s brightest assaults got here down the right-hand facet, and the veteran was typically left remoted towards Saka and Odegaard. He gained’t be the final to undergo this indignity, nonetheless.

Douglas Luiz – 5

The person linked with a transfer to Arsenal did little to advertise his credentials to Arteta as he misplaced the midfield battle to Partey and Xhaka. Will definitely have higher video games.

Jacob Ramsey – 4

A steep studying curve for Ramsey lies in wait. Was punished for some sloppy touches within the first half, and couldn’t function along with his normal driving runs via midfield.

John McGinn – 4 

Had Aston Villa’s first shot on the hour mark. Except for that, was largely nameless in assault, however labored onerous in defence.

Philippe Coutinho – 4

Was given a large construct up and was dropped at the membership for these kinds of events. Couldn’t get into the sport in any respect, nonetheless.

Emiliano Buendia – 4

Made an vital defensive contribution to cease Saka from doubling Arsenal’s lead early within the second half. In assault, nonetheless, the Argentine was virtually non-existent. Was hooked simply after the hour mark.

Ollie Watkins – 5

Was quiet for a lot of the sport and couldn’t discover an efficient technique to hyperlink up with both Coutinho or Buendia. Improved within the second half, and noticed a deflected shot cannon again off the publish, however couldn’t do sufficient.

Subs:

Bertrand Traore- 4

Supplied little or no after approaching, and headed a tough likelihood huge from a late nook.

Leon Bailey- 5

Supplied Cedric a brand new problem within the second half, and supplied a pair of tantalising crosses, however nobody was available to take benefit.

Danny Ings – N/A

Was not on the pitch lengthy sufficient.

Arsenal

Bernd Leno – 7

Made a few vital claims to alleviate strain on his again 4. Nonetheless, his distribution stays as erratic as ever and he commonly solely discovered Aston Villa gamers along with his passes, placing his facet again underneath strain.

Cedric Soares – 8

In Tomiyasu’s absence, Cedric has been glorious and he continued in that vein of kind at Villa Park. A few essential blocks stored Arsenal’s clear sheet intact.

Ben White – 7

Contemporary from his name as much as the England facet, White seemed totally in management as he turned Arsenal’s predominant distributor in Ramsdale’s absence. Will head into the worldwide break stuffed with confidence.

Gabriel – 6

Untested for probably the most half however one header over his personal crossbar prevented an nearly sure faucet in on the again publish.

Kieran Tierney – 6

Was erratic along with his crossing however defended a lot better than in current weeks as he stored Buendia after which Traore quiet.

Thomas Partey – 8

Partey’s skill underneath strain is the principle cause that Arsenal have been capable of preserve their spectacular run going since Christmas. Taking part in alone in central midfield now that Xhaka operates additional forwards, he didn’t actually put a foot fallacious for the Gunners at Villa Park.

Granit Xhaka – 7

Continues to regulate to his new position as a extra superior midfielder, and whereas there are actually gamers that might do the job higher all over the world, he’s making a superb fist of it.

Bukayo Saka – 9

Ran the Aston Villa defence ragged and has developed a seemingly telepathic hyperlink with Martin Odegaard on the appropriate facet of Arsenal’s assault. Now including targets to his recreation and certainly staking his declare as among the finest forwards within the league.

Martin Odegaard – 7

Ran the present as soon as once more within the attacking third and was unfortunate to not come away with one thing to indicate for it.

Emile Smith Rowe – 7

Struggled to achieve his normal giddy heights on his return to the facet, however provided loads of operating and endeavour each on and off the ball.

Alexandre Lacazette – 5

He and Smith Rowe bought in one another’s method when it seemed simpler to attain than miss halfway via the primary half. Continues to work onerous for the facet however is the clear weak hyperlink in Arsenal’s entrance 4, and missed an excellent alternative to slide in Odegaard twenty minutes from time that might have settled the end result.

Subs:

Nicolas Pepe – 3

His air kick in stoppage time put his facet underneath pointless strain, and gave away a free kick within the dying seconds that pressured a great save from Leno.

Eddie Nketiah- 4

Arsenal’s lack of high quality replacements had been telling as Nketiah continued to supply the impression that he isn’t on the required stage for Arsenal. Will certainly be leaving in the summertime.

Rob Holding- N/A

Got here on late to see out the 1-0 win.

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This text was edited by
Josh Barker.