Arsenal

2.96

• 
  71

  7

  3.00

  Wojciech Szczesny

  Other than picking the ball out of the net, had little to do. Made stops when it mattered though.

• 
  46

  6

  3.00

  Bacary Sagna

  Ashley Young’s vibrancy somewhat thwarted the full-backs usual tendency to raid down the right flank. Looked sound defensively but shame he could not have got forward more than he did.

• 
  25

  56

  2.50

  Sébastien Squillaci

  Went walkabout for the first goal and seemed bewildered throughout by the constant interchange between the visitors’ front three - his replacement at half time was not a surprise.

• 
  92

  3

  3.00

  Thomas Vermaelen

  Offered composure at the back, in vivid contrast to Squillaci. To his credit, didn’t look as if he had been out of action for so long.

• 
  30

  17

  3.00

  Kieran Gibbs

  Assured performance that won't grab any headlines. Solid and dependable, yet missed a guilt edged chance that would have fired his team back into the game.

• 
  37

  11

  3.00

  Alex Song

  Provided the muscle in the Arsenal midfield three and created a decent platform that allowed Ramsay and Wilshere to play. Moved to centre-half after the interval and was rarely troubled.

• 
  78

  11

  3.50

  Jack Wilshere

  Pulled the strings in the middle, with anything Arsenal offered coming forward being almost exclusively initiated by the England man.

• 
  55

  14

  3.50

  Aaron Ramsey

  Grew in stature as they game progressed, looking equally impressive going back and forward.

• 
  27

  60

  2.50

  Andrey Arshavin Flop of the Match

  Anonymous throughout, it would be fair to say that it never really looked as if the Russian was up for it. Produced a string of fluffed passes that characterised his teams' display.

• 
  38

  29

  3.50

  Theo Walcott

  All Arsenal’s best moves came down the right, which is testament to the effectiveness of the winger. Perhaps could have done better in terms of his end product but at least was lively throughout.

• 
  50

  74

  2.50

  Robin van Persie

  Was nowhere near his clinical best and missed a selection of chances that he would usually gobble up. Not his day, despite scoring late on.

Substitutions

• 
  29

  69

  2.50

  Marouane Chamakh

  Came on at half time for Squillaci as Wenger went on the offensive, though he offered very little to a listless attack.

• 
  48

  26

  3.00

  Nicklas Bendtner

  Provided an assist for the goal after coming on as a late sub could there was little he could do to the turn the game his side's way.

Aston Villa

3.23

• 
  15

  6

  3.50

  Brad Friedel

  Faced a constant barrage of Arsenal attack, yet commanded his box excellently.

• 
  10

  3

  3.00

  Kyle Walker

  Had plenty on his plate dealing with Walcott, but did admirably. Offered little going forwards but I doubt that was an integral part of his game plan anyway.

• 
  10

  5

  3.50

  James Collins

  A big performance from the strapping centre half, who did well to keep the opposition attack at bay.

• 
  10

  10

  3.50

  Richard Dunne

  A commanding performance at the back and dealt with the fluidity of Arsenal's attack well.

• 
  7

  6

  3.00

  Luke Young

  Steady job in at right back, that was made a great deal easier by Andrey Arshavin's ineffectiveness.

• 
  5

  6

  3.00

  Stilian Petrov

  Couldn't do much to quell Arsenal's relentless waves forward and was eventually overwhelmed by it all.

• 
  15

  8

  0.00

  Ashley Young

  Innovative throughout and was a handful for the Gunners’ defence all game with his constant probing.

• 
  7

  8

  3.00

  Stewart Downing

  Came into the game in spells and was never really at the hub of any of his team’s attacking endeavour. A quiet one really.

• 
  6

  9

  3.00

  Fabian Delph

  An anonymous performance, where he wasn't afforded any opportunity to get on the ball and knock it around. The game passed him by.

• 
  9

  7

  3.00

  Nigel Reo-Coker

  Was bustling in the middle of the park without really offering too much quality on the ball. Became over-ran after Arsenal began to establish a flow.

• 
  48

  11

  4.00

  Darren Bent Top of the Match

  Quiet all game, other than proving the decisive character when it really mattered. Fantastic finishing and his coolness in the box was the primary difference between the two sides.

Substitutions