Arsenal v Aston Villa ratings: Smith Rowe 9, White 8; Targett 3, McGinn 3

Mikel Arteta's Gunners impress in comfortable Premier League victory

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  ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7, Had very little to do in the first half but looked confident when called upon and did well to stop Emiliano Buendia with an outstretched boot in the second period. His distribution was also impressive. Getty

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  Takehiro Tomiyasu - 7, Looked solid defensively and also contributed to attacks well, providing some good linkup with Bukayo Saka. Getty

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  Ben White - 8, Looked confident and even made a strong burst up the pitch. Made a good block to deny Ollie Watkins and a great header to stop Tyrone Mings getting a clear chance. Getty

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  Gabriel - 7, Moved the ball around well and defended well to deny Leon Bailey as the Jamaican tried to break forward. Got away with letting Matty Cash’s throw float over his head. AFP

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  Nuno Tavares - 8, Was a real threat down the left hand side, making a great run and pass to set up a chance for Saka. Also looked convincing defensively, though there were on or two slightly shaky moments towards the end. AP

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  Thomas Partey - 7, Unlucky to see his effort come back off the woodwork, but then headed in from Emile Smith Rowe’s corner. Sent another header marginally over the crossbar. His performance was tainted by a weak challenge that allowed Villa to score, while he then slipped to afford Jacob Ramsey another chance. PA

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  Albert Sambi Lokonga - 7, Made impressive challenges look easy and slipped a nice ball through to Alexandre Lacazette. Got plenty of shots off but should have picked out a pass at times. Was booked for pulling McGinn back, then got away with some ponderous play in his own half. Reuters

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  Bukayo Saka - 6, Often looked a threat but his final product was off at times, as the winger really should have buried his chance after good work from Tavares. Looked tired towards the end. Getty

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  Emile Smith Rowe - 9, Showed plenty of quality on the ball and put in a good delivery from the corner to assist Partey. He then went on to score Arsenal’s third having intercepted John McGinn’s pass to start the move. Getty

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  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 8, Could have done better with an early acrobatic effort, but scored after seeing his initial penalty saved by Martinez. Provided a lovely flick to Smith Rowe for the third. Booked for stopping a Villa break. Getty

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  Alexandre Lacazette - 7, Linked the play brilliantly at times and did well to win the penalty just before the break. Getty

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  SUBS: Martin Odegaard (Lacazette, 68’) - 6, Showed his usual quality and moved the ball around neatly. Getty

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  Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Lokonga, 73’) – N/R, Needs to be more precise with his passing if he is to get more minutes in midfield. Getty

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  Gabriel Martinelli (Aubameyang, 91’) – N/R, Was blocked off by John McGinn as he tried to break forward. AFP

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  ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 6, Got a touch on Partey’s header and will be frustrated that he couldn’t keep it out. Was then left devastated when Aubameyang scored the rebound after saving his initial penalty. Did well to stop Aubameyang’s curling strike but had no chance with Smith Rowe’s goal. Getty

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  Ezri Konsa - 5, Was lucky to get the free kick after poor play in his own box and didn’t look confident at all in the first half. Looked better in the second period but the damage had already been done. AFP

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  Axel Tuanzebe - 4, Unlucky to come off at half time considering how unconvincing Konsa and Tyrone Mings were, but did give the ball away cheaply and wasn’t the best defensively either. PA

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  Tyrone Mings - 4, Had a really shaky start and struggled to deal with Arsenal’s attackers. His frustrations only grew as Smith Rowe’s shot went in off him. Was booked for a late challenge on Lacazette. Getty

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  Matty Cash - 5, Got away with poor play as Tavares couldn’t finish, then continued to struggle to deal with the Arsenal left-back and Smith Rowe. His throws provided a threat at times. AFP

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  John McGinn - 3, Ducked while marking Partey to make it easier for the Ghanaian to score Arsenal’s opener before getting booked for a silly challenge on Lokonga. Mings was left frustrated after the midfielder unconvincingly marked Partey again. Gave the ball away to start the move that led to Arsenal’s third. Getty

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  Douglas Luiz - 5, Picked out some good passes but couldn’t do enough to help Villa truly impose themselves on the game. Got himself booked for dissent. Getty

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  Matt Targett - 3, Looked shaky and got away with a terrible clearance attempt, then sloppily conceded a penalty just before half time. Was booked for a poor foul on Saka. EPA

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  Emiliano Buendia - 4, Played a couple of neat passes but was anonymous for large periods of the first half. Looked off the pace and was denied when a chance finally came his way. Getty

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  Danny Ings - 6, Got little service in the first half but worked hard to try to stretch Arsenal’s defence and help his teammates defensively. Couldn’t quite convert from his half-chances in the second period. Reuters

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  Ollie Watkins - 4, Booked in the opening minute and things didn’t get much better for the attacker, who had pretty much no impact on the first half. Forced a save from Ramsdale early in the second half and came so close to getting a touch on Matty Cash’s throw. Getty

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  SUBS: Leon Bailey (Tuanzebe, HT) - 6, Had a shot easily saved by Ramsdale but eventually carved out the chance for Jacob Ramsey to score. Then came inches away with a free kick effort. Getty

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  Jacob Ramsey (Buendia, 68’) - 7, Had a couple of bright moments going forward and also helped out defensively. Scored with a wonderful finish, but couldn’t capitalise after Partey slipped. Getty

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  Anwar El Ghazi (Ings, 77’) – N/R, Had pretty much no impact on the game after coming off the bench. Reuters

Arsenal turned on the style with a confident 3-1 home win over Aston Villa in the Premier League to extend their unbeaten run to six games in the competition.

The win moves the North London side up to ninth spot, level on 14 points with sixth-placed Manchester United, and there were real signs that manager Mikel Arteta is finally putting together a side with prospects.

Emile Smith Rowe delivered another excellent performance on the left of midfield, capping his display with the third goal, but there was a good shape and confidence to the entire team.

A Smith Rowe corner led to the opening goal with Thomas Partey's attempted headed glancing off his shoulder and going in the far corner to give the Gunners' a 23rd minute lead.

The hosts doubled their advantage before the break with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang driving home after his penalty was saved by Villa's former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Smith Rowe made it 3-0 in the 56th, finishing a counter-attack by cutting in from the left and seeing his low shot go in off the post after a deflection.

Villa pulled a goal back eight minutes from the end when Jacob Ramsey curled the ball into the top corner after Leon Bailey burst across the front of the penalty area.

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