• Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the table
  • Player ratings from a disappointing defeat for the Gunners

    The Gunners had been gifted the opportunity to go top by Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday, but goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins ensured that they remained in second place heading into the final six weeks of the 2023/24 campaign.

    Manchester City are now in first place and heavy favourites to win a record-breaking fourth consecutive title.

    Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)

    GK: David Raya – 5/10 – Didn’t do much aside from pick the ball out of his net.

    RB: Ben White – 6/10 – A surprising substitution in the second half considering he was playing quite well. Potentially injury-induced.

    CB: William Saliba – 5/10 – It’s not been a great week for the France international. Followed up a nervy outing in midweek with another one on Sunday.

    CB: Gabriel – 4/10 – Gifted Ollie Watkins an opportunity in the first half, then failed to cut out Digne’s cross in the lead up to the opening goal in the second. A rather lacklustre outing from the defender.

    LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 4/10 – Left-back has been a problem position for Arsenal this season, and judging by Zinchenko’s performance on Sunday one can see why. The Ukrainian lost all but one duel on the left, and his clumsy loss of possession on the hour mark almost cost the Gunners a goal.

    CM: Martin Odegaard – 7/10 – Never really put a foot wrong in possession. Another questionable sub from Arteta.

    CM: Declan Rice – 5/10 – Not at his dynamic best.

    CM: Kai Havertz – 6/10 – His movement in the first half caused Villa a whole host of problems, but struggled to get into the game in the second half.

    RW: Bukayo Saka – 6/10 – Curled an effort wide in the first half, but was generally not as effective as he usually is.

    ST: Gabriel Jesus – 4/10 – Lively, but so sloppy in possession at times. The problem Arsenal have with Jesus is essentially the exact same as Liverpool’s current problem with Darwin Nunez.

    LW: Leandro Trossard – 6/10 – Denied what looked like a certain goal in the first half by Martinez. Faded quite a bit at the start of the second half.

    Substitutes

    SUB: Takehiro Tomiyasu (66′ for White) – 5/10

    SUB: Gabriel Martinelli (66′ for Trossard) – 5/10

    SUB: Emile Smith Rowe (78′ for Odegaard) – 5/10

    SUB: Jorginho (78′ Jesus) – 4/10 – Lost the ball in the lead up to the second goal.

    Manager – Mikel Arteta – 4/10 – His management of the second half ensured that the game drifted away from Arsenal. Questionable substitutes at questionable times played a huge part in the defeat.

    SOURCE – Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Gunners’ Premier League title hopes fade (90min.com)

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