Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa: Gabriel a monster as Martin Zubimendi pulls the strings | OneFootball

Gunners extend lead at top of table - for now

Arsenal produced a brilliant second-half display to beat Aston Villa 4-1 and emphatically end the visitors’ winning run.

Unai Emery’s side arrived in north London on a run of 11 straight victories and the match was in the balance after a goalless opening 45 minutes.

After the break, though, Arsenal turned on the style. Gabriel opened the scoring from a corner, before Martin Zubimendi and Leandro Trossard put the Gunners firmly in control.

Matt Verri was at the Emirates Stadium to rate the Arsenal players...

David Raya 8

Astonishing stoppage-time save but his clean sheet went late on. Injected pace into the match in the first half with a couple of swift throws out and charged up to keep the ball in on the halfway line.

Jurrien Timber 7

Missed a huge chance to make it 3-0 when poking over. But again put in huge physical effort before he had to be replaced and got the assist for Trossard’s goal.

Gabriel 9

Arsenal’s monster in both boxes is back. Made his presence felt with trademark goal from a corner and then so brave in his own area seeing out the lead. Two big clearances.

William Saliba 6

Brilliant interception stopped Watkins having a tap-in. Not as physically dominant as Gabriel and had some shaky moments up against Watkins, and was turned too easily for the goal.

Piero Hincapie 7

Crucial challenge to stop an early Villa counter and stood up a great cross for Viktor Gyokeres to head over. Fluffed his lines when played through after the break.

Orchestrator: Martin Zubimendi

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Martin Zubimendi 9

Brilliant all-round display. Drove forward well, kept winning his duels in midfield and then popped up as the striker to produce a lovely finish. Nearly had a second in stoppage-time.

Mikel Merino 5

Struggled to fill the void left by Declan Rice’s absence. Too easily bypassed in midfield and could have seen red after dragging Morgan Rogers down when already on a yellow.

Martin Odegaard 8

Buzzed around full of energy again, continuing strong run of form. Forced Martinez into good save in the second half and so often picked the right pass in the final third.

Bukayo Saka 7

Perfect corner delivery for Gabriel’s corner but had been very quiet up to that point. Team far less reliant on the right wing than usual. Went close when blazing over a late chance.

Viktor Gyokeres 6

Better movement when flashing a diving header just wide in the first half, having wasted an earlier chance. Ran the channels decently but again not strong enough with back to goal.

Leandro Trossard 9

Sensational. Worked tirelessly tracking back and got his reward when slamming in a great finish for 3-0. Assisted Jesus’ goal Gyokeres’ best moments again came from his crosses, too. Starting shirt is his.

Goalscorer: Leandro Trossard

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Substitutes:

Christian Norgaard (Merino 73’) 6

Didn’t need to provide much protection in midfield as Arsenal ran riot.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (Gabriel 77’) 6

Not alert enough when the ball bounced loose for Watkins’ late consolation.

Gabriel Jesus (Gyokeres 77’) 8

Scored his first goal in almost exactly a year a minute after coming on. Confident, curling strike.

Noni Madueke (Saka 83’) N/A

Ben White (Timber 83’) N/A