Ben O’Callaghan, (B6 BEN) Ross Buet (RB) and Sam Brogan (SB) join UTV podcast team members Justin Hawthorne (JH) and Ryan Mckeown (RM) as Villa bounce back from the mid-week disappointment to complete the double over Arsenal with a 1-0 victory.
If you’d like to join us for the next game drop us a comment.
Aston Villa Formation 4-2-3-1
Emi Martinez – 9
Another brilliant performance what a keeper we have, great save in the first half from the free-kick and commanded his box brilliant, how can you not love this guy. (SB)
Matty Cash – 9
Matty Cash – I love this guy!! He produced an outstanding defensive display and left everything on the pitch today.
£16 million – BARGAIN!! (RM)
Ezri Konsa – 7.5
Back to his usual high standard today, especially in the first half. He got his head on everything and anything, including Lacazette when the two clashed heads early on. He picked up a booking on the half-hour mark, which was the only blemish to an otherwise all-around solid display.
Konsa and Mings are working well together and have built a solid partnership. It’s no surprise we’ve picked up 11 clean sheets already this season. (RB)
Tyrone Mings – 9 (UTVPODCAST POLL | MOTM)
Mings was class and made sure we didn’t concede. (B6 BEN)
An absolute rock today, didn’t put a foot wrong. Still the main man at the back for club and country (JH) 9.5/10
Matt Targett – 7.5
He didn’t have much to do early on but grew into the first half, making some good blocks to deny crosses and linking up well with Grealish down that left-hand side. We didn’t see as much of Targett in advanced positions today but after the early Watkins goal it was always about staying tight at the back and we did that well.
In the second half, he tracked back to make a great last-ditch tackle to deny Emile Smith-Rowe as Arsenal turned up the pressure. Few stray passes going forward but another solid display. (RB)
John McGinn – 8
Tireless performance from him, the McGinn we all love was back today, pressed well when needed to and kept Smith Rowe quiet and worked brilliantly with Nakamba today. (SB)
Marvelous Nakamba – 7
Nakamba wasn’t really involved but did well when he was. (B6 BEN)
Came in and did another very good job, got booked early but it didn’t stop him breaking things up, becoming very reliable (JH) 8/10
Ross Barkley – 7
Barkley started quietly today, after the early goal he pressed well as Arsenal enjoyed a spell of possession. He combined well with Traore, putting him through on goal on the half-hour mark before collecting the rebound and getting away a shot himself that was blocked.
He started the second half much stronger; firstly a well-worked corner fell nicely to him but he scuffed the first-time shot. A couple of minutes later he linked well with Grealish down the left-hand side, breaking into the box before slicing a shot wide on his left foot. That was his last meaningful contribution as Barkley was replaced by Jacob Ramsey on 77 minutes.
Overall he can be pleased with his contribution today and was frustrated at being taken off. I’m sure Dean Smith will be having words after he kicked a water bottle in frustration on his way back to the dugout. (RB)
Jack Grealish – 8
Grealish created 4000 chances, and is still ‘THE GOAT’ (B6 BEN)
Never plays badly, teams are now all doubling up on him yet he still finds space and creates chances (JH) 7.5/10
Bertrand Traore – 7.5
Recalled to the starting line-up, and he made an instant impact showing fantastic anticipation to latch onto Cedric’s poor pass back, driving into the box and laying on an assist to the red-hot Ollie Watkins! He was driving at the Arsenal defence again in the first half, but his attempted dink over Matt Ryan was well saved. A decent shift from the Burkina Faso international. (RM)
Ollie Watkins – 9
What a signing he is, could become a villa legend, everything you want from a striker, work rate, defends from the front and gets goals, a big part of why we are top half this season. (SB)
Substitutions:
Trezeguet (on for Traore, 66th minute) 6
More minutes for the Egyptian as he gets up to speed following his injury lay-off. (RM)
Ramsey (on for Barkley, 78th minute) 6
The youngster replaced Barkley to add some energy and legs in the middle of park. (RM)
Subs not used:
Heaton, Elmohamady, Engels, Davis. Luiz, Sanson, El Ghazi
UTV PODCAST | MERCH
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