Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the new Premier League season with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa, but the result was far less comfortable than the scoreline suggested. The London club relied on their quality to secure all three points in Birmingham, while mistakes and ineffective performances from Ben White, Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz left them vulnerable to a different outcome.
The assessment below, published by Euro-Football.Ru, considers which Arsenal players came closest to undermining the side’s hard-earned win.
The maximum mark is 10, with every player starting the match with a rating of 6.0.
Ben White – 3.5
Arsenal’s most vulnerable area was the right side of their defence, where Ben White endured an uncomfortable afternoon.
The warning signs appeared as early as the sixth minute, when White gave the ball away to Hemmings in a routine situation and almost allowed Aston Villa to take advantage. The defender was fortunate that John McGinn sent his shot well over the crossbar.
White’s statistics offered some protection, with six of his seven duels won. However, he repeatedly looked capable of handing possession back to the hosts and effectively inviting them to launch a counter-attack.
Had White been facing a more accomplished opponent than Hemmings, Ian Maatsen or an inexperienced Alejandro Garnacho, the consequences could have been far more serious. Arsenal ultimately escaped without conceding, but White’s handling of the right-back position remained one of the side’s main concerns.
Christos Tzolis – 3.0
Christos Tzolis was introduced to the more demanding realities of the Premier League and found little joy against Aston Villa’s defensive attention.
The Greek winger was quickly subjected to close marking, with Matty Cash effectively shutting down his route down the flank. Tzolis lost five of his six duels before being replaced at half-time, while he also surrendered possession three times when attempting to dribble.
One particularly costly moment came in the 12th minute. Tzolis was beaten by Boubacar Kamara close to his own penalty area, allowing Emiliano Buendia to take advantage. Buendia struck the crossbar, and Arsenal were once again reminded that a single error could have changed the contest.
Tzolis was substituted at the interval, a logical decision after a first-half display in which he struggled to influence the match either with the ball or in his defensive work.
Kai Havertz – 3.0
Kai Havertz was caught offside five times, making him the most frequent offender in that area during the match.
Unable to find enough space in central positions, Havertz moved towards the right wing in search of opportunities. That change of position did not bring a significant improvement, however, and Arsenal eventually needed Bukayo Saka to move inside and perform the work of a centre-forward.
Saka’s adjustment helped create the winning moment, as he finished Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross. Havertz, by contrast, managed only one attempt on goal despite playing the entire match.
His effort came from the edge of the penalty area and was directed towards the centre of the target. Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki could have gathered the ball immediately, underlining how little threat Havertz posed in front of goal.
Arsenal’s quality was enough to secure a narrow victory and keep them among the teams yet to drop points in the new Premier League season. But their unbeaten record was placed under pressure by a combination of defensive uncertainty, Tzolis’ difficult introduction to the game and Havertz’s lack of attacking impact.