Arsenal 2-3 Villarreal Player Ratings: Ethan Nwaneri Rated 7.5/10 as Arsenal Fall Short of Villarreal at Home

Arsenal faced Villarreal in a club friendly on 6th August, 2025, at 6:00 PM (GMT), at the Emirates Stadium in London. The match served as a preparation for both the teams before they start their season in their respective leagues in the next week.

Both the teams started on high energy, but it was Arsenal who took control of the game from the very first minute. They kept coming close but were missing the luck required in the final third. Almost against the run of play, Villarreal scored through Nicolas Pepe, the ex-Arsenal man, in the 16th minute of the game when Arsenal weren't able to clear the ball properly in their own penalty area before the Ivory Coast international turned it in to give the visitors the lead. It was in the 33rd minute when Villarreal doubled the lead through Karl Etta Eyong, as another defensive lapse from Arsenal proved costly. Gerard Moreno's shot was saved by David Raya, but the ball found its way to the young striker in the penalty box, who dinked it past the diving Jakub Kiwior. Arsenal got one back through Christian Norgaard in the 36th minute, as he headed a corner from Gabriel Martinelli past Luiz Junior's near post.

In the second half, the picture remained the same. The Gunners tried their level best but couldn't find an opening. In the 68th minute, Arnaut Danjuma finished off a Villarreal counter to double the lead for the visitors again. Arsenal managed to salvage another goal through Martin Odegaard's penalty in the 76th minute, but it wasn't enough to save the match. Here are the Arsenal vs Villareal Player Ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings

Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper:

David Raya - 6/10

The Spanish goalkeeper was majorly untested in the first half. Raya made a couple of regulation saves and played well with the ball at his feet. However, should have parried the ball away much better which resulted in Villarreal's second goal.

Defenders:

Ben White - 6.5/10

White defended the right side well, preventing Alberto Moleiro from getting into dangerous positions. However, the Spaniard did get the better of the fullback at times due to his pace. Offensively, White combined well with Saka and made a few overlapping runs.

William Saliba - 6/10

In the absence of his usual partner Gabriel, William Saliba stepped up for the Gunners. The centre back did his job pretty well, as he made a good number of interceptions and blocks and played juicy passes from the back. He stepped forward at times to run with the ball into the empty spaces before releasing to a better-positioned player.

Jakub Kiwior - 5.5/10

Kiwior played in place of Gabriel and did a decent job. His ball-playing ability from the back was neat and covered the spaces really well.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6/10

The left back was quite lively throughout the game. Lewis-Skelly made numerous runs into the opposition's danger areas and always looked for an outlet in the box. His runs were hard to track, but Juan Foyth did get the better of him at times.

Midfielders:

Ethan Nwaneri - 7/10

The youngster once again proved to Mikel Arteta why he is an exciting prospect for the Gunners. Ethan Nwaneri was sleek with his passing and his twists and turns in the middle of the park were hard to anticipate. He got into good positions in and around the box and carried the ball all too well. Undoubtedly one of the best players for Arsenal on the pitch.

Christian Norgaard - 6.5/10

Arsenal's new signing somewhat impressed everyone in this game. Norgaard was on point with his passing but still needs to gel in with the team. His positioning was an issue throughout the game, although he settled in well as the game went by. Defensively, he was decent too. Scored the second goal of the game, which brought Arsenal back into the game.

Mikel Merino - 6/10

Mikel Merino made quite a few darting runs into the box, which he does so effortlessly. He tracked back well to help his teammates defend and always looked to do something exciting in and around the Villarreal penalty area.

Forwards:

Bukayo Saka - 6.5/10

Bukayo Saka set the right wing on fire with his trickery. The Englishman gave a hard time to Sergi Cardona throughout the course of the game. He dribbled well in tight spaces and tried to find his teammates inside the box most of the time.

Viktor Gyokeres - 5/10

Arsenal's debutant, Viktor Gyokeres, had an okayish outing in his first match. Gyokeres had a few touches on the ball and mostly occupied the positions in and around the penalty area. He did drop deep at times to help his midfielders out. Just like Norgaard, he too needs time to settle in.

Gabriel Martinelli - 6.5/10

The Brazilian played well on the left-hand side, giving Juan Foyth a bit of a headache at times. However, he was a bit sloppy with his passing and gave the ball away quite a few times in good positions. It was Martinelli's corner, which was headed home by Norgaard to cut the deficit to one goal.

Substitutes:

Martin Zubimendi - 6/10

Christian Mosquera - 6/10

Declan Rice - 6/10

Jurrien Timber - 6/10

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5/10

Gabriel Magalhaes - 6/10

Martin Odegaard - 7/10

Converted the penalty quite calmly to cut thr deficit for the Gunners for the second time in the match.

Max Dowman - 6/10

Oleksandr Zinchenko - NA

Noni Madueke - NA

Manager:

Mikel Arteta - 6/10

Arteta fielded a 4-3-3 formation, handing Viktor Gyokeres his first start for the club. His team took control of the game from the very first minute and made Villarreal work hard to get the ball back. His players pressed well and were quick in releasing passes. However, two defensive lapses made them pay the price. His team showed character and pulled one back in the first half itself.

Villarreal Player Ratings:

Here are Sportsdunia's Villarreal Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper:

Luiz Junior - 6/10

The Brazilian goalkeeper seemed a bit nervous between the sticks. He took way too many touches inside the box as Gyokeres pressed him effectively and made him commit a few mistakes, which could have been costly. Should have done better to save Christian Norgaard's effort at the near post.

Defenders:

Juan Foyth - 6.5/10

The right back put in a good shift on the right-hand side defensively, as he minimized the threat offered by Gabriel Martinelli to a great extent.

Santiago Mourino - 6.5/10

Mourino played well at the back, and he was on hand to clear a number of dangerous Arsenal crosses. The centre back stepped forward at times to put in a few important tackles in and around the box and held the defensive line quite well.

Rafa Marin - 6/10

Rafa Marin had a decent game in the Villarreal backline, where he dealt quite well with what was thrown at him. He cleared a good number of crosses and made some crucial blocks.

Sergi Cardona - 6/10

The left back had a decent game, although he struggled a bit against the lively Bukayo Saka. Offensively, he wasn't very effective.

Midfielders:

Nicolas Pepe - 7/10

The former Arsenal man played well on the right-hand side. He brought his bag of tricks to the game and gave Lewis-Skelly a bit of a headache. Scored the opening goal of the game due to a defensive error from Arsenal.

Pape Gueye - 6/10

The midfielder was the most hardworking player for Villarreal on the pitch. Gueye went up and down the pitch chasing second balls, winning duels, and also providing forward passing options to his teammates. Used his physicality well to steamroll past his markers and make dangerous runs into the box.

Dani Parejo - 6/10

The veteran Spanish midfielder tried to provide some control in the middle of the park but was largely unable to do so due to Arsenal's high press. Held the ball well at times but couldn't find too many passing options.

Alberto Moleiro - 5.5/10

Moleiro tried his best on the left-hand side to make something happen, but the winger was kept in check by Ben White.

Forwards:

Gerard Moreno - 6/10

The Villarreal skipper dropped deep at times and held the ball well before passing to a better-positioned teammate. Moreno didn't get too many chances in front of the goal and saw his shot saved by Raya, which was later dispatched by Etta Eyong.

Karl Etta Eyong - 7/10

Karl Etta Eyong used his pace well to get behind the Arsenal defensive line from time to time. He showed his poacher instincts when he latched onto Raya's save, which wasn't cleared away from danger properly, to double the lead for the visitors in the first half.

Substitutes:

Santi Comesana - 7/10

Provided a lovely through ball for Arnaut Danjuma for Villarreal's third goal of the game.

Tajon Buchanan - 6/10

Pau Navarro - 6/10

Diego Conde - 6/10

Arnaut Danjuma - 7/10

Provided instant impact as his neat finish at Kepa's far post doubled the lead for Villarreal again.

Alfonso Pedraza - 6/10

Pau Cabanes - NA

Denis Suarez - NA

Adria Altimira - NA

Jean Yves Valou - NA

Manager:

Marcelino - 6/10

Played with his typical two strong forwards up front, with four midfielders dictating the game in the middle. His team relied on counters mainly and took their opportunity quite brilliantly. The defenders defended their heart out and managed a well-fought victory in the end.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match: Ethan Nwaneri