Arsenal player ratings vs Aston Villa: Eberechi Eze top class as Riccardo Calafiori relishes new role

Here’s how Standard Sport rated the Arsenal players...Two from two for clean sheets in the Premier League this season. No real stress here - did not have a single save to make. Sharp when required to come off his line and mop up, and claimed crosses well.Passing was wayward at times and looked very unconvincing when Maatsen ran at him. Not quite on the same wavelength with Saka and Odegaard as he normally is. Relied on Rice to cover for him several times.Superb pass through the lines to Eze made the difference for Arsenal’s goal. In control defensively on the whole, though a concern that he went down holding the back of his leg with ten minutes to go and had to be replaced.Poor header when Suzuki got caught under the ball from a corner - should have scored. One shaky moment in defence when Jackson beat him to the ball and burst away out wide. Aside from that, he was aggressive and defended the box bravely as ever.Did brilliantly on the stretch to play the ball across goal for Saka to finish. Looked vulnerable to balls in behind in the early stages but that is forgiven when he adds so much unpredictability in the final third.Superb deliveries with his in-swinging corners and he covered the ground in midfield so well. Played a key role defending counter-attacks, with the full-backs pushing up so high. Nobody made more recoveries.Used his body well to draw fouls in the first-half as Arsenal struggled for control. Had one decent deflected effort loop over the bar. Solid if unspectacular display. Place could be vulnerable with Guimaraes fit again.Read MoreDenied a penalty when VAR showed foul was just outside the box but his decisive moment came. Good movement to ensure he was there to score from close range. Spent much of the night being kicked - won six free-kicks in all.Went close with a free-kick on the edge of the box, clipped into the side-netting. Otherwise a really quiet night from the captain. Safe in possession but Arsenal needed more to unlock a well-organised defence. No real influence.Big drop-off from his recent displays. Some heavy touches and booked for fouling Cash as his frustration grew. Villa targeted him, with McGinn leading appeals for a second yellow soon after. Hooked at half-time.Seven touches in the first-half, the fewest of any player on the pitch. More involved after the break and worked tirelessly up front, though too often mistimed his runs to be caught offside. Two poor misses when one-on-one, even if flag was up.Eberechi Eze (Tzolis 46’) 7Made the difference in a top-class cameo. Played in Calafiori for the goal and offered much more threat down that wing. Bit loose at times late on when Arsenal just needed to hold it.Bruno Guimaraes (Lewis-Skelly 71’) 7Had a swift impact with his positive passes through to Havertz and Saka. Clear he can make a big difference progressing the ball into the final third. Unlucky not to win a penalty late on.Mikel Merino (Odegaard 71’) 7Brought energy to the midfield and ticked away the seconds drawing fouls. So secure in possession.Ezri Konsa (Mosquera 79’) 6Nice reception from the Villa fans and then played his part as Arsenal held on.Martin Zubimendi (Rice 85’) N/A