LEANDRO TROSSARD could hold his head high after his performance in Arsenal’s draw against Aston Villa.
The Gunners were looking for a win to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Martinelli netted the opener after firing in a rebound that Emiliano Martinez failed to keep out.
But it was the impressive Leandro Trossard’s cross that created the chance.
Kai Havertz made it 2-0 in the 55th minute however, the game was far from won.
Aston Villa fought back to level the game as Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins struck twice inside eight minutes to flip the game on its head.
The Gunners thought they had scored a late winner through a frustrated Mikel Merino but were denied after the ball deflected in off Havertz’s arm.
SunSport’s Jordan Davies has given their ratings for the Arsenal team…
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
He was let down by those in front of him for both goals, a duo of close-range efforts he had no chance with.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 8
With performances like this, he is suddenly the first name on the team sheet for Arteta. So calm and composed for someone so young, and his strength against bigger opposition is scary at times.
GABRIEL – 7
Made a crucial tackle one-on-one with Watkins and another block from a speedy counter
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Alert to foil counters against the pace of Watkins and coped well in general. It is not his fault that he doesn’t have the defensive presence of Saliba.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
A great stint at right back but one lapse in concentration cost Arsenal the lead, losing track of Watkins in the box before he volleyed in.
MIKEL MERINO – 6
A workman-like performance – won his duels and worked his socks off, but the small details were missing, shanking a good chance well wide in the first half.
He then lost his marker to allow Tielemans to head in and make it 2-1.
Could have won it at the end with a scuffed effort in off Havertz that VAR chalked off and smacked the post too.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Integral to everything good about Arsenal and came close with a long-range punt in the second half.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6
A solid display but he is really missing his partner in crime in Saka. He created as much as he could but sometimes needs to be more selfish to drag his team over the line.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8
Deflected effort was comfortable for Martinez, but his superb cross made life much harder for the Villa keeper to tee up Martinelli for the opener.
The Belgian racked up his fifth Prem assist of the season in the second half for Havertz.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 8
Threatened at the far post early on, but got his rewards from the same position in the 35th minute with a stabbed effort ahead of Maatsen.
KAI HAVERTZ – 8
Again, lack of decent service left him living off scraps, but when he got a scrap he fired an effort straight at Martinez from close range.
The German more than made up for it after the break with a clinical finish, even if Martinez should have done better.
That will do wonders for his confidence.
SUBS:
RAHEEM STERLING (MARTINELLI, 82) – 6
A few darting runs, but added virtually nothing, other than a needless yellow card. A cameo that screamed “lacking confidence”.
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