Arsenal vs Aston Villa Player Ratings as Emery's 11-Game Winning Streak Halted, Gabriel Scores in 4-1 Rout Before Injury Drama

The first 45 minutes? Absolute, incredibly boring. Arsenal and Villa locked in a goalless stalemate, both sides feeling each other out, neither willing to take any risks early on. Aston Villa looked content sitting deep and hitting on the counter with Ollie Watkins, while Arsenal probed without finding that killer pass. Fans were thinking this might be a 0-0 or a tight 1-0, then the second half happened, and everything changed.

Arsenal came out like a completely different team, possessed, intense, and absolutely ruthless. Three minutes in, and they'd broken the deadlock, and from there it was a masterclass in attacking football. Leandro Trossard was setting up the beautiful destruction of Villa's defence, spraying passes and turning this tight contest into a one-way rout. Goals just kept coming for the Gunners. Watkins grabbed a late consolation for Villa, but it was just another note in Arsenal's demolition job. This was a statement victory, the kind that sends a message to everyone watching that Arsenal are serious contenders for the 2025/26 Premier League title. Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal vs Aston Villa player ratings.

Emiliano Martínez Error Proves Costly in Aston Villa Player Ratings

Check out the Aston Villa player ratings for the Arsenal vs Aston Villa fixture.

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 4.5: A night to forget for the former Arsenal man on his return to the Emirates. He conceded four goals and was guilty of an error that led to a goal. While he made a couple of decent saves, his confidence seemed to seep away as Arsenal ran riot in the second half. We noticed his distribution, which is usually a strength, was also off.

Defenders

Victor Lindelöf - 5.0: Part of a backline that was completely overwhelmed after halftime. He made a couple of clearances and blocks but looked lost at sea against the fluid movement of Arsenal's attack. He was bypassed far too easily for a player of his experience. Just a passenger for large parts of the second half.

Ezri Konsa - 6.0: The captain tried his best to hold things together, and he even created a big chance going forward. But defensively, it was a thankless task. He won a few duels and showed some leadership, but was ultimately powerless to stop the Arsenal onslaught. A slightly better performance than his defensive partners.

Lucas Digne - 4.0: A truly disastrous performance from our perspective. An error leading directly to a goal is unforgivable at this level, and he also made another error that led to a shot. He offered little going forward to make up for his shocking defensive frailties. Easily one of the worst performers on the pitch.

Lamare Bogarde - 4.5: Looked out of his depth against top-quality opposition. He picked up a yellow card and lost possession an alarming 10 times. The occasion seemed to get to him. What stood out to us was his positional indiscipline, which Arsenal's forwards exploited time and again.

Midfielders

Youri Tielemans - 6.0: One of the few Villa players who showed some real fight. He won an impressive nine duels and battled hard in midfield until he was substituted. However, he also had an error that led to a shot and couldn't impose himself on the game in an attacking sense. A tireless but ultimately fruitless effort.

Emiliano Buendía - 5.0: A ghost of a performance. He was on the pitch for an hour but was completely anonymous. He failed to create anything of note and was a peripheral figure throughout. You expect so much more creativity from him, but he delivered nothing. A very disappointing outing.

Jadon Sancho - 5.0: Much like Buendía, Sancho was invisible before being hooked after 61 minutes. He offered no threat, completed very few passes in the final third and seemed off the pace. From our perspective, he looked like a player completely devoid of confidence. He needs to offer much more.

Amadou Onana - 6.0: He was actually having a decent game before being forced off with an injury at halftime. His 100% pass completion rate showed his composure on the ball. Villa definitely missed his physical presence in the middle of the park during the second-half collapse. A shame his game was cut short.

Morgan Rogers - 5.5: He certainly didn't hide. Rogers drew four fouls and won most of his duels, showing he was up for the physical battle. However, his use of the ball was poor, and he lost possession too frequently. A mixed bag of aggression and sloppiness.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins - 7.0: The lone bright spot for a dismal Aston Villa. He was a constant nuisance, taking five shots, hitting the woodwork, and eventually getting his well-deserved consolation goal. He worked tirelessly and was the only Villa player who looked like he could cause Arsenal problems. A commendable effort in a losing cause.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 5.0: The players who came off the bench, including John McGinn and Donyell Malen, were unable to stem the tide. They were thrown into a game that was already slipping away, and they struggled to make any positive impact as Arsenal continued their relentless assault.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 4.5: He got his tactics right for the first 45 minutes, but his team had no answer for Arsenal's second-half adjustment. His side looked disjointed and shell-shocked after conceding the first goal, and he seemed unable to rally his troops or make a tactical change to stop the bleeding. A very poor day at the office for the Spanish coach.

Leandro Trossard Bags Goal and Assist in Arsenal Player Ratings

Check out the Arsenal player ratings for the Arsenal vs Aston Villa fixture.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 7.0: A relatively quiet evening for the Arsenal keeper, but he did what he had to do with composure. He made two important saves from inside the box and was proactive, claiming the ball well and recovering it nine times. Conceding the late goal was the only small blot on his copybook.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: A typically composed and dominant display from the Frenchman. He was untroubled for most of the match, winning his duels and passing the ball out from the back with confidence. Watkins gave him a few things to think about, but Saliba handled the threat well. Another clean sheet would have been deserved.

Piero Hincapié - 7.5: What an excellent all-round performance. He was defensively rock-solid, highlighted by a superb last-man tackle. Going forward, he was also a threat, creating a chance and showing great energy down the flank. A very impressive and complete full-back display.

Gabriel Magalhães - 8.0: Immense at both ends of the pitch. He set the tone for the second half by scoring the crucial opening goal with a powerful finish. Defensively, he was his usual aggressive self, dominating his duels before an injury unfortunately cut his game short. A massive contribution.

Jurriën Timber - 7.5: Looked like a seasoned Arsenal player. He bagged an assist and was a constant menace with his overlapping runs, creating two chances for his teammates. Defensively he was sound too. What stood out to us was his intelligence and how quickly he has integrated into this team's style.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard - 8.5: The conductor of the orchestra. In the second half, he was simply unplayable. He provided a sublime assist, created three chances, and was at the heart of everything good about Arsenal's play. His vision and weight of pass were on a different level. A true captain's performance.

Mikel Merino - 7.5: A dynamo in the midfield before his substitution. He created three key passes and was relentless in his pressing and tackling, winning the ball back high up the pitch. He provided the perfect balance of defensive grit and creative spark. An excellent, high-energy performance.

Martín Zubimendi - 8.0: Ran the game from the base of midfield and capped his performance with a well-taken goal. His passing was crisp and incisive, and he screened the defence brilliantly with five duel wins and two interceptions. A complete midfield masterclass, controlling the tempo of the entire match.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 6.5: A quiet day at the office by his incredibly high standards. He worked hard and got into some good positions but missed a big chance and his final ball was lacking. He was still a threat that Villa had to watch, but it just wasn't his day in front of goal.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.5: A frustrating evening for the striker. He had a few good opportunities, including a couple of headers, but couldn't find the back of the net. His movement was good, but his finishing was off. You could see his frustration before he was eventually substituted.

Leandro Trossard - 8.5: Man of the match. The Belgian was absolutely lethal, scoring a goal and providing an assist. He created three chances, including a big one, and his clever movement and clinical finishing were a joy to watch. He was the difference-maker who unlocked the Villa defence. Simply outstanding.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 7.0: The substitutes, including Gabriel Jesus, came on and maintained Arsenal's high level of performance. Jesus even managed to get on the scoresheet with a fine strike from outside the box, capping off a perfect evening for the Gunners and ensuring the intensity never dropped.

Manager

M. Arteta - 8.0: Whatever he said at halftime deserves to be bottled and sold. He masterminded a spectacular second-half turnaround. His team came out with renewed purpose, energy, and a clear tactical plan to dismantle Villa. It was a coaching masterclass that turned a tight game into a statement win.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Leandro Trossard