Let’s check out the player ratings after the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins became the first Aston Villa player since Darren Bent in 2011 to score in three consecutive Premier League home games to seal a 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
The match-winning goal came in only the second minute of the game. Bertrand Traore capitalized on Cedric’s inability to deal with a direct ball forward to skip past Gabriel and slot the ball into the middle of the box for Watkins to smash home.
1:14 – Mat Ryan conceded just 74 seconds into his first Premier League start for Arsenal, becoming just the fourth goalkeeper in the competition's history to concede within the opening two minutes of their full Premier League debut for a club. Baptism. pic.twitter.com/uZvf4lOWg6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 6, 2021
It was the former Brentford striker’s ninth goal of his maiden Premier League campaign and ensured a disastrous Arsenal debut for Mat Ryan. The goalkeeper, on loan from Brighton, conceded 74 seconds into his first match. Only Gavin Ward (Bolton), Ian Bennett (Sheffield United), and Daniele Padelli (Liverpool) have conceded within two minutes of their Premier League debuts for a club.
That early opener, similar to Villa’s 3-0 win over Arsenal earlier in the season, handed the hosts complete control. Dean Smith’s defense was impeccable, giving the Gunners little hope of an equalizer. In fact, Emiliano Martinez was rarely troubled in the Lions’ goal throughout the first half.
Although Ryan, a boyhood Arsenal fan, did superbly deny Traore a goal that would’ve doubled Villa’s advantage.
But otherwise, it was another poor outing for Mikel Arteta’s men. They had no real answer for Villa’s resolute defense, no matter how much they tried, and fell to a 10th Premier League defeat of the season.
Thomas Partey missed 5 games in 5 years though injury. He’s already missed double that for Arsenal in half a season. We are cursed. pic.twitter.com/DlQcdzLO3t
— ArsenalsRelated 🔴 (@ArsenalsRelated) February 6, 2021
Adding insult was Thomas Partey’s injury setback. The Ghanaian needed treatment in the second-half and eventually had to be replaced by Willian. Arteta will be desperately hoping his summer signing won’t be spending another long spell on the sidelines.
Villa, meanwhile, have nailed their first league double over Arsenal since 1992/93 and have already equaled last season’s tally of 35 points. Their 11th win of the season is also the most they’ve had in the Premier League for a decade.
Player Ratings
Aston Villa: Martinez (8); Cash (7), Konsa (7), Ming (7), Targett (8); McGinn (7), Nakamba (7); Traore (7), Barkley (7), Grealish (7); Watkins (8).
Bench: Trezeguet (6), Ramsey (6).
Arsenal: Ryan (7); Bellerin (7), Holding (6), Gabriel (6), Cedric (4); Partey (6), Xhaka (6); Saka (7), Smith-Rowe (6), Pepe (6); Lacazette (6).
Bench: Odegaard (5), Willian (6), Aubameyang (6).
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