Aston Villa player ratings as top marks awarded and surprise Man of the Match named against Arsenal

The latest fan-voted Aston Villa player ratings are in after Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory against Arsenal at Villa Park.

Villa supporters submitted their player ratings via our AVF ratings form, which we’ll be inviting you to do via our social media throughout the 2025/26 season.

The process is simple. We’ll share a link at full time to ask fans to give every Villa player a score out of 10 – without a zero because we’re grown-ups and so are you – before adding in my own ratings from Aston Villa Review and taking an average.

These average scores will be used for Power Rankings each month and, ultimately, to crown a Player of the Season.

Villa v Arsenal player ratings

Emiliano Martínez – 8.2

The rock upon which victory was built, and uncharacteristically quietly so. Produced an excellent save to keep out Martin Keown’s Man of the Match Martin Ødegaard with 20 minutes left.

Matty Cash – 8.2

A typically assured performance from Cash, albeit on a day when Villa’s left-back was specifically targeted by Arsenal. Scored smartly to give Villa the lead in the first half with his third Premier League goal of the season.

Ezri Konsa – 7.5

Good with and without the ball. Konsa made a few important interventions defensively but overall Mikel Merino and then Viktor Gyökeres achieved next to nothing in Villa’s defensive third.

Pau Torres – 8.0

A useful partner for Ian Maatsen on the left side of Villa’s defence, backing up the left-back against Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka. Set up Cash’s goal before the break and increased in influence in possession in the second half.

Ian Maatsen – 7.8

Brave enough to get forward even when faced with one of the Premier League’s better wingers. In the end, it was Saka who wasn’t up for the two-way test. Maatsen linked well with Jadon Sancho after he came off the bench.

Amadou Onana – 7.2

This was one of Onana’s quieter matches for a while in terms of direct impact but his presence in a terrific Villa midfield display was vital.

Boubacar Kamara – 7.8

Kamara did it all. Again. Involved in Villa’s press one minute and dropped into Villa’s back line the next. Showed composure around the edge of Arsenal’s box and made a goal-line clearance in the second half. Epic.

Youri Tielemans – 8.5

My Man of the Match by a small margin. Tielemans played in the 10 (kind of) and defended brilliantly from the front. He hasn’t always appeared suitable for the position but he adds so much to the Villa press.

John McGinn – 7.5

Another captain’s performance. McGinn worked his nuts off for 75 minutes and his passing in Arsenal’s half kept the game open and got Villa moving when the game threatened to go against them after half time.

Morgan Rogers – 8.3

A widely heralded individual performance and Rogers deserved the praise. His defending was superb and his usual work on the turn, running at defenders who were powerless to stop him, was spot on.

Ollie Watkins – 6.8

Didn’t match his performance in the win against Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek but this was more a less-than-stellar Watkins display than an outright bad one. Nearly scored a goal entirely of his own making but he and Villa needed more from one another overall.

Substitutes

Donyell Malen – 6.7

Malen came on for the final quarter of the match and quickly got involved. Close to scoring Villa’s second goal with 12 minutes to go.

Jadon Sancho – 5.8

Partnered well with Maatsen after coming on with quarter of an hour left and his willingness to run at players kept Arsenal on the back foot at times. Made a huge contribution to the winning goal.

Lamare Bogarde – 6.7

Bogarde came on with 15 minutes left, slotted straight into the midfield and handled his business before moving to another position to see out the game. Underrated cameo.

Emi Buendía – 9.0 – MOTM

Came on with four minutes left so I honestly don’t know how you people are rating him at all, never mind as Man of the Match.

Only joking.

Victor Lindelöf – 6.4

Really, though. There wasn’t enough time.

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