An uninspiring and passive performance saw Arsenal continue their push for Champions League qualification with ease at Villa Park this Saturday afternoon.
Bukayo Saka drilled home unmarked from the edge of the area after a short free-kick caught Villa sleeping.
Like many performances this season Aston Villa finally showed up in the second-half but despite efforts from Watkins and Ings they couldn’t find a way back into the game.
Let’s see how the Villa Fans rated our stars in Claret and Blue.
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STARTING LINE-UP
Formation 4-3-1-2
Emi Martinez – 6
Rating contribution from Hannah Gowen
Not too many difficult saves for Martinez this afternoon but did do a good job to stop a deflected shot off Konsa from heading goal bound.
*Matty Cash – 7
Rating contribution from Gary Plaza
Best of a bad bunch today. Always looked to get the team forward and rarely got caught on out by Arsenal.
Comments from Cash this week shows his commitment to the team and we need to back his commitment with our desire to challenge the top 8.
Ezri Konsa – 7
Rating contribution from Liam Davies
On his return to the side, Villa’s No. 4 put in a solid display. The 24 year-old could have closed winger Bukayo Saka down quicker for the goal, but take nothing away from the Arsenal No.7’s fine strike.
Konsa kept striker Alexandre Lacazette quiet throughout the game and demonstrated his composure and excellent defensive ability throughout. A valiant performance from the former Brentford man who looks to keep his place against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break.
Tyrone Mings – 6.5
Rating contribution from Ryan Mckeown
Received a ridiculous yellow card after a perfectly executed challenge on Saka.
Only criticism of Mings’ performance is I felt he took one-to-many touches as we built from the back, but on reflection, the whole team were guilty of doing the same!
Ashley Young – 6
Rating contribution from Hannah Gowen
Struggled a lot in the first half, particularly early on as Saka ran him ragged – a difficult job no doubt. Did a lot better second half, put in a good block in the box to deny Arsenal a shot on goal. Tried hard to get forward but end product wasn’t as good as it should be.
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Douglas Luiz – 7
Rating contribution from Liam Davies
One of the Brazilian’s best displays of late, putting in a solid display in the centre of Villa’s midfield. The No.6 often linked up with fellow South-Americans Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia to create a chance and generate opportunities for striker Ollie Watkins.
Luiz broke up play well, and despite getting caught out occasionally on the counter, dealt with playmaker Martin Odegaard well, and made himself available to see a lot of the ball, particularly in the second-half.
John McGinn – 6
Rating contribution from Gary Plaza
Another nearly performance from McGinn. Many bright moments but also many poor moments with poor crosses from both free kicks and corners and also poor passing.
Sanson must be hot on the tails of our midfield three which should be making them all worried.
Jacob Ramsey – 5
Rating contribution from Ryan Mckeown
Booked early after a challenge on Smith-Rowe and struggled to impose himself on this fixture, replaced on 68 minutes.
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Emi Buendia – 5
Rating contribution from Hannah Gowen
Got his call up back to the starting 11 but didn’t do much with it. He did do a lot of running to be fair to him, tried to defend and do the dirty stuff, but really didn’t get a foot in the game and he made no impact on his return to the team.
Phillipe Coutinho – 6
Rating contribution from Liam Davies
The ‘little magician” tried to make things happen from the left, often dropping back to receive play, but ultimately couldn’t produce the killer pass or shot to equalise or get his side back in the game.
A 94th minute free-kick that was parried aside by Bernd Leno was Coutinho’s best effort of the game, on what was a relatively average display, without the want for trying for the Brazilian.
Ollie Watkins – 5
Rating contribution from Gary Plaza
Not quite at it today. Always a willing runner but with two 10’s behind him simply doesn’t work.
We really need to decide how we want to play and stick to it. Our last two games have come against two of the top six and we have lost both by a goal. We are improving and getting closer to the teams above.
Substitutions
Leon Bailey – 6
on for Ramsey (68th minute) – Looked lively once again after replacing Jacob Ramsey. Fizzed a couple of dangerous crosses into the box. Ryan Mckeown
Bertrand Traore – 4
on for Buendia (68th minute) – First appearance for Traore for months and he didn’t do anything convincing to get another shout at breaking into the team. Had a couple of half chances, both of which were wide. Hannah Gowen
Danny Ings – 5
on for Watkins (80th minute) – Floated a header just over minutes after his introduction. Ryan Mckeown
Subs not used: Robin Olsen, Morgan Sanson, Calum Chambers, Carney Chukwuemeka, Tim Iroegbunam, Tommi O’Reilly.
Goals
Aston Villa
N/A
Arsenal
Saka 30’
Opposition
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Cedric; White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Smith Rowe, Odegaard (Holding, 85), Saka (Pepe, 68); Lacazette (Nketiah, 76).
Subs not used: Okonkwo, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Swanson, Hutchinson
THE BOSS
UP NEXT
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Saturday 2nd April 2022 | 15:00
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