Villa Park has long been a difficult away venue for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, and that trend continued as the Gunners slipped to a 2–1 defeat in the Premier League.
A late strike from Emiliano Buendia sealed the win for Aston Villa after Matty Cash had put the hosts ahead in the first half. Leandro Trossard briefly gave Arsenal hope with an early second-half equaliser, but it ultimately counted for nothing.
Unai Emery’s men are now just three points behind Arsenal as the busy December schedule kicks in. Reflecting on a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, here’s how each player performed:
David Raya – 7
Raya was called into action multiple times and made several excellent saves, including a standout first-half stop to deny Ollie Watkins. Even so, he couldn’t prevent Villa from securing the win.
Ben White – 7
Arguably Arsenal’s strongest defender on the day, White handled the tricky Morgan Rogers well and helped improve Arsenal’s attacking flow by linking up again with Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
Jurrien Timber – 5
Despite his strong season overall, this was perhaps Timber’s weakest performance. He was frequently dragged out of position, leaving Arsenal exposed at the back.
Piero Hincapié – 6
After a shaky opening half, Hincapié grew into the game and produced several crucial interventions. However, his insistence on carrying the ball instead of clearing it led to the throw-in that preceded Buendia’s winner.
Riccardo Calafiori – 4
Villa repeatedly exploited Arsenal’s left flank, and Calafiori often struggled with positioning between pushing forward and tucking inside. Villa could have punished this more.
Martin Zubimendi – 6
Though criticised by some, Zubimendi quietly fulfilled his role of recycling possession and feeding Arsenal’s more creative players.
Declan Rice – 8
Another superb showing. Rice’s defensive contributions, ball recoveries, and driving runs were vital. He won the ball high up the pitch in the buildup to Arsenal’s goal.
Martin Ødegaard – 7
After a muted first half, Ødegaard improved considerably. He created chances and threatened with his shooting, though teammates failed to finish the opportunities he crafted. His fit alongside Eze remains questionable.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Another solid, if unspectacular, performance from Saka. Even on an “average” day he remains consistently dangerous. His cross set up Trossard’s goal, and he gave Maatsen a difficult afternoon.
Eberechi Eze – 3
A tough outing for Eze, whose lapse allowed Cash the space he needed to score. Out wide he looked far from his best, reinforcing the idea that he is far more effective centrally.
Mikel Merino – 3
Removed at halftime after a poor first half. He struggled in possession and offered little threat in attacking areas.
Substitutes
Leandro Trossard – 7
Made an immediate impact by scoring Arsenal’s lone goal. His early departure due to a knock will be concerning for the medical staff.
Viktor Gyökeres – 5
Uncharacteristically quiet. Villa’s defence kept him under control, and although he worked hard off the ball, his hold-up play was below his usual standard.
Noni Madueke – 6
