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Arsenal vs Aston Villa player ratings: That does it then
by Josh Sippie
Centre-Backs
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ROB HOLDING
CB, Arsenal5.4
Sluggish and slow. There were instances of him hesitating even for the slightest bit, and it made things awkward. He definitely doesn’t have the athleticism of Mustafi, and he was caught out, almost to a dastardly end in the 75th minute.
DAVID LUIZ
CB, Arsenal6.7
Confidence is clearly flowing with Luiz. His longballs were incredible and he sticks to people like glue. Gives no room for attackers to get comfortable. Didn’t really make any mistakes before being prematurely taken off at the hour mark. A good performance.
SEAD KOLASINAC
CB, Arsenal5.7
He fought hard for every single ball, fearlessly attacked opposing ball carriers. Got forward really well too, and that’s always key for him. The more he can get forward, the better he often is. That said, he had some confusingly bad passes mixed in with the positive attacking moves and his defense was all over the place. It’s hard to get a beat on what he will do. Overall in this one, it balanced out somewhere around level.
Arsenal%c2%a0looked like the underdogs of the century for two consecutive matches against Manchester City and against Liverpool, outscoring the last two Premier League champions 4-1 on aggregate.</p>
<p>The Gunners looked damn good, and with a berth in the FA Cup finals against Chelsea coming up, the last two matches of the Premier League season look like walkovers—Watford and Aston Villa, with Villa up first.</p>
<p>Of course, nothing is ever easy when relegation is involved, and with Villa fighting to save themselves, the fight was always going to be tough. Especially with Watford getting slaughtered against City. A win and Villa would be out of the bottom three. Arsenal would have to surrender the role of underdog to Villa and learn how to make the most of possession.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="5 Things Learned Against City" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/18/arsenal-vs-manchester-city-5-things-learned-arsenal-hope/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/18/arsenal-vs-manchester-city-5-things-learned-arsenal-hope/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 5 Things Learned Against City </a> </div>
</div>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d934d1e6/Mikel-Arteta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mikel Arteta</a> made the changes you might have expected, rotating to a much different team than that which faced City. It looked more like the team that beat Liverpool, which is never a bad thing.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/a53649b7/Eddie-Nketiah?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eddie Nketiah</a> came back, most notably, and Arteta wasted no time getting him into the starting XI, albeit as a right-winger opposite Aubameyang, who’s fight for the golden boot clearly earned him a continued place.</p>
<p>The midfield also saw a shift, with <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/Granit-Xhaka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Granit Xhaka</a> getting an overdue rest in favor of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/52611641/Lucas-Torreira?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lucas Torreira</a>.</p>
<p>The match started pretty tamely, with each team trading relatively mild blows. Arsenal began to take control of the match around the quarter-hour mark, peppering Villa’s defense. Yet it was Villa who struck first just after the first water break. Somehow Trezeguet was left completely unmarked and a perfect strike beat everyone. Honestly, it’s hard to even blame anyone for the goal. It was a great strike after a fortuitous bounce.</p>
<p>But it changed the match. Villa took over as the clear favorites, never giving the Arsenal defense a moment’s rest. The Gunners would have been grateful for half time. Though Villa picked up right where they left off, stuffing their visitors back into their own half before they were finally able to punch out and mount some kind of attacking threat.</p>
<p>No matter what the Gunners tried, though, they couldn’t break through for that elusive goal and ended up falling in disappointing fashion, 1-0. That’s what happens when you don’t get a single shot on target.</p>
<p>Here are the player ratings:</p>
<h4>Goalkeeper</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="6.5" data-name="EMI MARTINEZ" data-meta-a="GK" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Did what he could. Not sure what to say beyond that. A couple of good saves, left helpless on the goal."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FMartinez_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3DgmaU0aQO"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">EMI MARTINEZ</h3> <span class="position">GK,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">6.5</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Did what he could. Not sure what to say beyond that. A couple of good saves, left helpless on the goal.</div> </div>
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<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Centre-Backs </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="3200" height="2051" class="size-full wp-image-103844" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2051,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1227724450.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, David Luiz, <a rel=" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227724450.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227724450-768x492.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"></p>
<h4>Centre-Backs</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.4" data-name="ROB HOLDING" data-meta-a="CB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Sluggish and slow. There were instances of him hesitating even for the slightest bit, and it made things awkward. He definitely doesn’t have the athleticism of Mustafi, and he was caught out, almost to a dastardly end in the 75th minute."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FHolding_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3D_EmU7PDN"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">ROB HOLDING</h3> <span class="position">CB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.4</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Sluggish and slow. There were instances of him hesitating even for the slightest bit, and it made things awkward. He definitely doesn’t have the athleticism of Mustafi, and he was caught out, almost to a dastardly end in the 75th minute.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="6.7" data-name="DAVID LUIZ" data-meta-a="CB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Confidence is clearly flowing with Luiz. His longballs were incredible and he sticks to people like glue. Gives no room for attackers to get comfortable. Didn’t really make any mistakes before being prematurely taken off at the hour mark. A good performance."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FDL_Website_profiles_1045x658_v2.jpg%3Fitok%3DqvVlzxz8"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">DAVID LUIZ</h3> <span class="position">CB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">6.7</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Confidence is clearly flowing with Luiz. His longballs were incredible and he sticks to people like glue. Gives no room for attackers to get comfortable. Didn’t really make any mistakes before being prematurely taken off at the hour mark. A good performance.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.7" data-name="SEAD KOLASINAC" data-meta-a="CB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="He fought hard for every single ball, fearlessly attacked opposing ball carriers. Got forward really well too, and that’s always key for him. The more he can get forward, the better he often is. That said, he had some confusingly bad passes mixed in with the positive attacking moves and his defense was all over the place. It’s hard to get a beat on what he will do. Overall in this one, it balanced out somewhere around level."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FKolasinac_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3Dp9Au6D7o"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">SEAD KOLASINAC</h3> <span class="position">CB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.7</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">He fought hard for every single ball, fearlessly attacked opposing ball carriers. Got forward really well too, and that’s always key for him. The more he can get forward, the better he often is. That said, he had some confusingly bad passes mixed in with the positive attacking moves and his defense was all over the place. It’s hard to get a beat on what he will do. Overall in this one, it balanced out somewhere around level.</div> </div>
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<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Wing-Backs </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="3200" height="2291" class="size-full wp-image-103845" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2291,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1257454397.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, <a rel=" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257454397.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257454397-768x550.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"></p>
<h4>Wing-Backs</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="6.2" data-name="CEDRIC SOARES" data-meta-a="RWB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Combined well with Nketiah in getting forward and joining the attack. Certainly the better of both wingbacks. Has surprising speed and athleticism and defends with the tenacity of a fullback while attacking with the precision of a wingback. He was good here, as good as he’s been all season."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FSoares_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3DrlykjRA2"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">CEDRIC SOARES</h3> <span class="position">RWB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">6.2</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Combined well with Nketiah in getting forward and joining the attack. Certainly the better of both wingbacks. Has surprising speed and athleticism and defends with the tenacity of a fullback while attacking with the precision of a wingback. He was good here, as good as he’s been all season.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.9" data-name="BUKAYO SAKA" data-meta-a="LWB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Great to see him getting involved in the attack again. He and Cedric were key early on in blazing down the wide angles and making this Villa defense stretch to keep up, but when Villa started to push back, Saka began to struggle. He’s just not as good near our goal as he is near the opposing goal. When he finally got a chance on goal, he snapped at it and fluffed his lines."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FSaka_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3DXtzAEUrg"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">BUKAYO SAKA</h3> <span class="position">LWB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.9</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Great to see him getting involved in the attack again. He and Cedric were key early on in blazing down the wide angles and making this Villa defense stretch to keep up, but when Villa started to push back, Saka began to struggle. He’s just not as good near our goal as he is near the opposing goal. When he finally got a chance on goal, he snapped at it and fluffed his lines.</div> </div>
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<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Central Midfield </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="3200" height="2134" class="size-full wp-image-103846" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1257448201.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, <a rel=" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257448201.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257448201-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"></p>
<h4>Central Midfield</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="8.5" data-name="DANI CEBALLOS" data-meta-a="CM" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="<strong>Man of the Match.</strong> Very active, very effective. He was popping up everywhere, offensively and defensively, and stamping himself into the center of play. Wherever the ball is, Ceballos was never far. Has a really slick touch, especially in tight situations. He rarely takes action without weighing the success rate, which is why he always looks so positive. He was our best, most incisive attacker for the bulk of the match."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FCeballos_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3DP2n_Yy1a"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">DANI CEBALLOS</h3> <span class="position">CM,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">8.5</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details"><strong>Man of the Match.</strong> Very active, very effective. He was popping up everywhere, offensively and defensively, and stamping himself into the center of play. Wherever the ball is, Ceballos was never far. Has a really slick touch, especially in tight situations. He rarely takes action without weighing the success rate, which is why he always looks so positive. He was our best, most incisive attacker for the bulk of the match.</div> </div>
</div>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.1" data-name="LUCAS TORREIRA" data-meta-a="CM" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Overshadowed by Ceballos. Didn’t defend as well, didn’t move the ball as well, didn’t attack as well. There’s a reason he was taken off at half, and it’s because he wasn’t providing much. He was like a less effective version of Ceballos. We needed Xhaka."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FTorreira_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3DLJn9wPWN"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">LUCAS TORREIRA</h3> <span class="position">CM,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.1</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Overshadowed by Ceballos. Didn’t defend as well, didn’t move the ball as well, didn’t attack as well. There’s a reason he was taken off at half, and it’s because he wasn’t providing much. He was like a less effective version of Ceballos. We needed Xhaka.</div> </div>
</div>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Front Three </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103851" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103851" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1084,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1227724968.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah" width="1600" height="1084" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227724968.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227724968-768x520.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Front Three</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.9" data-name="EDDIE NKETIAH" data-meta-a="RW" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Exuded free-flowing play, dropping wherever he needed to be to make himself available for the attack. Also turning into quite a scrappy player. That said, he struggled to get involved, despite his best efforts. Almost a tremendous headed goal off a corner in the 76th but the post saved Villa’s day."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FNketiah_1045x658_1.jpg%3Fitok%3DezjWR8ou"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">EDDIE NKETIAH</h3> <span class="position">RW,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.9</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Exuded free-flowing play, dropping wherever he needed to be to make himself available for the attack. Also turning into quite a scrappy player. That said, he struggled to get involved, despite his best efforts. Almost a tremendous headed goal off a corner in the 76th but the post saved Villa’s day.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.5" data-name="PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG" data-meta-a="LW" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Didn’t get into the match. You’d think that he and Saka would be able to work wonders, but they seemed a bit stopped up. Had a fantastic opportunity on a near-identical pass from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/" https: target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kieran Tierney, but was unable to put anything on the end of it this time. Honestly forgot he was on the pitch for the last twenty minutes or so."
> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FAubameyang_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3DD5w_ewVj"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG</h3> <span class="position">LW,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.5</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Didn’t get into the match. You’d think that he and Saka would be able to work wonders, but they seemed a bit stopped up. Had a fantastic opportunity on a near-identical pass from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/fce2302c/Kieran-Tierney?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Kieran Tierney</a>, but was unable to put anything on the end of it this time. Honestly forgot he was on the pitch for the last twenty minutes or so.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.3" data-name="ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE" data-meta-a="ST" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="He fought. To what end, not much. But he was in the trenches, scrapping away. His passing lacked the edge it needed and often prematurely ended attacks with its waywardness. Disappeared in the latter staged when Villa started to sit deep."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FLacazette_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3DWucaQRNh"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE</h3> <span class="position">ST,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.3</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">He fought. To what end, not much. But he was in the trenches, scrapping away. His passing lacked the edge it needed and often prematurely ended attacks with its waywardness. Disappeared in the latter staged when Villa started to sit deep.</div> </div>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103854" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1084,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1257459138.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Granit Xhaka" width="1600" height="1084" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257459138.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1257459138-768x520.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Granit Xhaka (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>Substitutes</h4>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="6.4" data-name="GRANIT XHAKA" data-meta-a="SUB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="He was needed from the start. When we’re going to have <em>that</em> much possession, you need someone to deal it out effectively. That’s Xhaka’s job. We only got him for 45 minutes. Once he came on, it felt much better. Much more effective."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FXhaka_1045x658_0.jpg%3Fitok%3D4RdnaWrD"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">GRANIT XHAKA</h3> <span class="position">SUB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">6.4</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">He was needed from the start. When we’re going to have <em>that</em> much possession, you need someone to deal it out effectively. That’s Xhaka’s job. We only got him for 45 minutes. Once he came on, it felt much better. Much more effective.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="5.8" data-name="NICOLAS PEPE" data-meta-a="SUB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Struggled. Not sure what position he was playing, if he was supposed to be a wingback or what, but he wasn’t stationed as far forward, which led to some lackluster attacking play."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FPepe_profile_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3DM5x_CZ9Y"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">NICOLAS PEPE</h3> <span class="position">SUB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">5.8</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Struggled. Not sure what position he was playing, if he was supposed to be a wingback or what, but he wasn’t stationed as far forward, which led to some lackluster attacking play.</div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Grade" data-grade="6.2" data-name="KIERAN TIERNEY" data-meta-a="SUB" data-meta-b="Arsenal" data-inner-content="Immediately instigated positive attacking play, curving a pass similar to his assist against Manchester City into the path of Aubameyang."> <div class="grade remove-native-227"> <div class="grade-header"> <div class="photo"> <img src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/21/arsenal-aston-villa-player-ratings/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_200,h_200,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arsenal.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fplayer_featured_image_1045x658%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2FTierney_1045x658.jpg%3Fitok%3Df_cwTaLa"> </div> <div class="border"> <h3 class="first-name">KIERAN TIERNEY</h3> <span class="position">SUB,</span> <span class="team">Arsenal</span> </div> <div class="the-grade"> <h3 class="letter-grade">6.2</h3> </div> </div> <div class="details">Immediately instigated positive attacking play, curving a pass similar to his assist against Manchester City into the path of Aubameyang.</div> </div>
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