Arsenal laid to relaxation the ghosts of their losses to Aston Villa final season by selecting up a second Premier League victory at the beginning of the 2024/25 marketing campaign on Saturday evening.
The Gunners suffered two essential defeats to the Villans final time period however they rode the wave of residence strain earlier than strikes from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey helped them safe all three factors away from residence.
There have been quite a few spectacular performances from Mikel Arteta’s squad, although some gamers could not make their mark on the encounter.
With the assistance of 90min’s participant scores, listed here are Arsenal’s greatest and worst gamers from their win on Saturday evening.
William Saliba – 8/10
William Saliba endured some darker days at the beginning of his Arsenal profession however quick ahead a few years and he’s arguably the very best defender within the Premier League at current.
The Frenchman was known as into motion often on Saturday because the likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers poured ahead, however he at all times appeared to give you the reply to the house facet’s probing questions. Be it an important header or a last-ditch sliding problem, there was merely no getting previous Saliba at Villa Park.
Arsenal’s energy is constructed on an extremely sturdy defence and the 23-year-old confirmed towards Villa why he’s so extremely rated amongst centre-backs all through Europe.
Honourable mentions
David Raya – 7/10
Ollie Watkins may need had a tricky time attending to sleep after his efficiency towards the Gunners. The England striker had a few good openings however could not take benefit, first lacking from shut vary earlier than seeing a rebound clawed away from hazard by the elastic David Raya.
The Golden Glove holder sprang again to his toes after Amadou Onana’s strike deflected onto the crossbar and into Watkins’ path, thrusting out an instinctive hand to maintain the scores stage at 0-0 shortly earlier than Trossard bagged the opener.
Leandro Trossard – 7/10
Leandro Trossard has developed a fame as Arsenal’s tremendous sub and he enhanced it some extra as he scored shortly after his introduction towards Villa.
Gabriel Martinelli had been ineffective on the left wing and was considerably instantly proven up by the Belgium worldwide, who stored his cool to seek out the nook from the sting of the field from Bukayo Saka’s help.
Trossard got here up with the products incessantly in direction of the top of the 2023/24 season and can be demanding a begin subsequent week when the Gunners tackle Brighton & Hove Albion, having been named on the bench for the primary two video games of the season.
Kai Havertz – 5/10
Kai Havertz regarded as sharp as something in Arsenal’s Premier League opener, scoring and aiding because the north London giants overcame Wolves 2-0. His link-up play was exact and his ending crisp on the Emirates Stadium, however he was much less influential on Saturday evening.
The Germany worldwide diverted his solely shot vast and misplaced possession on a few events. It was a quiet night for the 25-year-old, however he deserves the prospect to remain in Arteta’s beginning XI having turned issues round after an inauspicious begin at his new membership.
Dishounarable point out
Gabriel Martinelli – 5/10
Whereas Havertz may get the prospect to enhance on his efficiency subsequent week, Gabriel Martinelli won’t be so fortunate.
The Brazilian was on the fringes on the sport earlier than his withdrawal within the sixty fifth minute. Trossard, his direct alternative, scored only some moments later to embolden his claims for a beginning spot at Martinelli’s expense.
The 23-year-old hasn’t equipped a objective contribution within the first two video games and could also be reduce from the lineup subsequent week on the premise of this efficiency.
