Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa: Gabriel is back! Returning defender sparks Gunners into life as ‘Set-Piece FC’ send title-race message with crushing win, Trossard and Odegaard lead four 9/10s…

Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa: Gabriel returns! The returning defender energizes the Gunners as ‘Set-Piece FC’ delivers a title-race statement with a decisive victory.

Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa as Trossard and Odegaard lead with four 9/10s.

ARSENAL 4-1 ASTON VILLA: Player performances evaluated following the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

The anticipated statement win that many had forecasted arrived for Arsenal at an opportune moment. They dismantled Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to avenge their recent defeat earlier this month.

Arsenal found themselves exposed multiple times in the early minutes of the match as the long ball to Ollie Watkins proved effective. They also created opportunities but were left frustrated as they headed into halftime.

However, just seconds after the second half began, a corner taken by Bukayo Saka found Gabriel, who made a crucial touch and watched the ball bounce into the net. Moments later, the second goal followed thanks to some brilliance from Odegaard and a stunning finish by Martin Zubimendi.

Things improved even further when Leandro Trossard struck from outside the box, and Gabriel Jesus capped it off with a spectacular curled finish. A late consolation goal from Watkins denied David Raya a clean sheet after he made an incredible double save.

Here’s how football.london assessed the performances of the Arsenal players:

David Raya – Was lucky not to be more involved in the first half as Aston Villa squandered their opportunities. He had little to do in the second half but distributed the ball calmly and accurately. However, he was tested late in the game, managing to deny John McGinn before being beaten by Ollie Watkins moments later. 7

Jurrien Timber – Made a fantastic tackle on Watkins down the right, much to the crowd’s delight. He also provided the pass to Leandro Trossard with a clever touch that set up the third goal. 7

William Saliba – Executed a brilliant last-man challenge on Ollie Watkins, sliding in to thwart what seemed a certain goal for the striker. A strong performance that kept Watkins at bay. 8

Gabriel Magalhaes – Just seconds into the second half, the Brazilian made his first start since returning from injury, rising highest to meet a corner from Bukayo Saka and providing the crucial touch to put the Gunners ahead. He bravely won a defensive header, bending down and taking a kick from Tielemans in the process. 9

Piero Hincapie – Delivered an early cross for Gyokeres after shifting from his usual centre-half position to left-back. Made a strong tackle in the box to prevent Jadon Sancho from scoring. 7

Martin Zubimendi – Continues to impress with his ability to win both small and aerial duels; his understanding of these battles allows him to win far more than one would expect from someone of his stature. His perfect finish also gave the Gunners a solid advantage early in the second half. 9

Mikel Merino – Very fortunate to still be on the pitch after a challenge on Rogers, having already been booked, which allowed him to escape a second yellow card. Overall, it was a subdued game for him, and I feel I need to invest more time in watching the Spaniard when he plays in midfield. 5

Martin Odegaard – Displayed great poise and control, with the pass leading to Zubimendi’s goal and the duel he won prior showcasing his importance to the team. The cross that set up Trossard’s eventual goal was also superb, rounding off another excellent performance as the captain has clearly found his form. 9

Bukayo Saka – After a quiet and frustrating first half, he quickly redeemed himself when his corner found Gabriel, giving the Gunners the lead. Although he was involved in the play, there should have been more end product from the winger for the second consecutive game. 6

Viktor Gyokeres – Had an early headed chance that went over the bar. He lost possession in his own half, nearly allowing Ollie Watkins to score, and faced a challenging first half.

He skimmed the post with a diving header after a good delivery from Trossard and showed brilliant hold-up play to win the corner that led to the opening goal, turning the defender on several occasions with some key blocks. 6

Leandro Trossard – He made some impressive early deliveries and created opportunities, including a low driven shot that was saved by Martinez. In the second half, he executed a brilliant strike that allowed the Gunners to take full control of the match.

He then delivered the perfect pass to Jesus, contributing to the Gunners’ fourth goal. Another outstanding performance from the Belgian, making him a strong candidate for man of the match. 9

Substitutes:

Christian Norgaard – Came on to replace the somewhat fortunate Mikel Merino in the second half. He held his ground in midfield and fulfilled his assigned role effectively. 6

Myles Lewis-Skelly – He was caught off guard during the Watkins goal and should have been marking the striker. 5

Gabriel Jesus – What an impressive introduction that was; with his first touch, he curled a beautiful shot into the corner. 7

Noni Madueke – Entered the game late to help secure the victory. n/a

Ben White – Came on late to assist in closing out the match. n/a