Arsenal Player Ratings: Saka, Rice, and Calafiori all star with 8/10 in Villa win

Arsenal secured another narrow Premier League victory at Villa Park, with Bukayo Saka’s close-range finish settling a tense contest. Mikel Arteta’s second-half changes proved influential as the visitors defended their lead to preserve a perfect start.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

David Raya — 6/10

Enjoyed a relatively quiet evening, making no saves. He was alert when coming off his line and dealt confidently with crosses to maintain another clean sheet.

Ben White — 5/10

Struggled for consistency in possession and was uncomfortable when facing Maatsen. Rice frequently had to provide cover as Villa attacked his side.

Cristhian Mosquera — 8/10

Produced an excellent pass through Villa’s midfield before Eze and Calafiori combined for the winner. Defended calmly until a late injury forced his withdrawal.

Gabriel — 7/10

Strong and committed inside the box, although he missed a good headed chance. Had one difficult moment against Jackson but recovered to defend bravely.

Riccardo Calafiori — 8/10

A major attacking influence from the left. His excellent stretch to deliver across goal created Saka’s winner, while his adventurous positioning constantly troubled Villa.

Declan Rice — 8/10

Covered huge ground and provided excellent deliveries from corners. His defensive recoveries were crucial whenever Arsenal’s advanced full-backs left space behind.

Myles Lewis-Skelly — 6/10

Used his strength intelligently to win fouls and offered reasonable protection in midfield. Never spectacular, but maintained his discipline throughout his time on the pitch.

Bukayo Saka — 8/10

Delivered the decisive moment with a sharp close-range finish. Despite being heavily targeted, he remained dangerous and won six free-kicks.

Martin Odegaard — 6/10

Had a free-kick clip the side-netting but otherwise struggled to influence proceedings. Kept possession safely without finding enough openings against Villa’s compact defence.

Christos Tzolis — 5/10

Endured a frustrating first half, with several heavy touches and a booking. Villa repeatedly tested him before Arteta replaced him at the interval.

Kai Havertz — 5/10

Saw little of the ball early on but became more involved after half-time. Worked hard but was repeatedly caught offside and missed two chances.

Substitutes

Eberechi Eze — 7/10

Changed Arsenal’s attacking threat immediately. His clever pass released Calafiori for the winning move, although he became slightly loose in possession late on.

Bruno Guimaraes — 7/10

Made an instant impact with progressive passes into dangerous areas. Linked well with Havertz and Saka and remained influential after coming on.

Mikel Merino — 7/10

Added energy and composure in midfield. Kept possession securely, won fouls and helped Arsenal manage the closing stages effectively.

Ezri Konsa — 6/10

Received a warm welcome from the home supporters before settling into his defensive duties and helping Arsenal protect their advantage.

Martin Zubimendi — N/A

Introduced late for Rice and had too little time on the pitch to make a meaningful impact.