Arsenal's Willian made an unauthorised trip during the international break. Reuters
Arsenal's Willian made an unauthorised trip during the international break. Reuters
Arsenal's Willian made an unauthorised trip during the international break. Reuters
Arsenal's Willian made an unauthorised trip during the international break. Reuters

Willian's trip to Dubai leaves Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta unimpressed


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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he has 'dealt with' winger Willian's trip to Dubai, but did not reveal if the Brazilian will be dropped for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds.

Willian was pictured on Instagram at the Nusr-Et steakhouse in Dubai with celebrity owner Nusret Gokce, more commonly known as 'Salt Bae'.

Under coronavirus restrictions in the England, international travel is not permitted apart from for special purposes such as work or education.

However, the UAE is not on the UK's quarantine list and the 32-year-old Brazilian has been able to return to training this week.

"Whatever happens with things we don't expect, we will try to resolve them internally," Arteta said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"That's been dealt with and explained. We had a conversation and I explained what I was expecting.

"For every player there are a lot of personal factors at the moment."

Arteta has had to deal with a series of issues over the international break as Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac tested positive for coronavirus when with their national teams.

David Luiz and Dani Ceballos are also reported to have had a training ground altercation.

And Gunners' captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had to spend a night on an airport floor with his Gabon teammates as they were delayed getting through customs in Gambia.

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Arsenal v Villa player ratings

  • ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno 6 – Leno could do little about McGinn’s goal that was disallowed, or any of the three goals that stood. Made two particularly good saves from Grealish and Trezeguet in the second half. AP
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno 6 – Leno could do little about McGinn’s goal that was disallowed, or any of the three goals that stood. Made two particularly good saves from Grealish and Trezeguet in the second half. AP
  • Hector Bellerin 5 – Was poor in his defensive duties but was one of the few positive attacking outlets. Had been in good form coming into this game, but this was one to forget. AP
    Hector Bellerin 5 – Was poor in his defensive duties but was one of the few positive attacking outlets. Had been in good form coming into this game, but this was one to forget. AP
  • Rob Holding 4 – Had a tough evening up against Jack Grealish but came closest to levelling for the home side. Unfortunately his shot on the hour finished wide. AP
    Rob Holding 4 – Had a tough evening up against Jack Grealish but came closest to levelling for the home side. Unfortunately his shot on the hour finished wide. AP
  • Gabriel Magalhaes 5 – Made a crucial block from a Grealish effort but overall had a rough evening. Struggled to keep pace with Oli Watkins. PA
    Gabriel Magalhaes 5 – Made a crucial block from a Grealish effort but overall had a rough evening. Struggled to keep pace with Oli Watkins. PA
  • Kieran Tierney 6 – Always looked dangerous on the overlap and his crossing was a threat. Struggled in his own half; one back pass in particular almost proved disastrous. AFP
    Kieran Tierney 6 – Always looked dangerous on the overlap and his crossing was a threat. Struggled in his own half; one back pass in particular almost proved disastrous. AFP
  • Thomas Partey 5 – Was a threat going forward making dangerous runs into the box. Had a couple of chances but his finishing let him down. AP
    Thomas Partey 5 – Was a threat going forward making dangerous runs into the box. Had a couple of chances but his finishing let him down. AP
  • Mohamed Elneny 5 – Had a good chance to score but overall struggled to keep pace with Barkley and Grealish. Getty
    Mohamed Elneny 5 – Had a good chance to score but overall struggled to keep pace with Barkley and Grealish. Getty
  • Bukayo Saka 4 – Looked dangerous when going forward but couldn’t match his usual standards and was unfortunate at the other end when he bundled into his own net. Getty
    Bukayo Saka 4 – Looked dangerous when going forward but couldn’t match his usual standards and was unfortunate at the other end when he bundled into his own net. Getty
  • Willian 4 – Didn’t bring his shooting boots and shot wildly on two separate occasions. His passing was also amiss at times. PA
    Willian 4 – Didn’t bring his shooting boots and shot wildly on two separate occasions. His passing was also amiss at times. PA
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 4 – Another poor game from the skipper, who offered very little going forward whether on the left or in a more advanced central position. AP
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 4 – Another poor game from the skipper, who offered very little going forward whether on the left or in a more advanced central position. AP
  • Alexander Lacazette 4 – Should have added his name to the scoresheet but headed over when Kieran Tierney put it on a plate for him. Disappointing display. Getty
    Alexander Lacazette 4 – Should have added his name to the scoresheet but headed over when Kieran Tierney put it on a plate for him. Disappointing display. Getty
  • SUBS: Dani Ceballos 5 – Came on for the injured Partey and came close with a curled effort within ten minutes of coming on. Made a key intervention on the line with Arsenal already two down. AP
    SUBS: Dani Ceballos 5 – Came on for the injured Partey and came close with a curled effort within ten minutes of coming on. Made a key intervention on the line with Arsenal already two down. AP
  • Nicolas Pepe 6 – Made a difference. Within five minutes of coming on, he had enjoyed as many shots as his teammates. AP
    Nicolas Pepe 6 – Made a difference. Within five minutes of coming on, he had enjoyed as many shots as his teammates. AP
  • Eddie Nketiah 5 – Brought on to try and add more of an attacking threat but in the end was guilty of committing too many needless fouls. Getty
    Eddie Nketiah 5 – Brought on to try and add more of an attacking threat but in the end was guilty of committing too many needless fouls. Getty
  • ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 7 – An enjoyable return to the Emirates. Reacted quickly to McGinn’s under-hit back pass to deny Partey, and did well to clear a Saka cross. EPA
    ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 7 – An enjoyable return to the Emirates. Reacted quickly to McGinn’s under-hit back pass to deny Partey, and did well to clear a Saka cross. EPA
  • Matty Cash 7 – The full-back didn’t have a great deal to do in his own half, which left him free to get forward and overlap. Gave Villa plenty of width. Getty
    Matty Cash 7 – The full-back didn’t have a great deal to do in his own half, which left him free to get forward and overlap. Gave Villa plenty of width. Getty
  • Ezri Konsa 7 – Solid performance. Was always wise to Arsenal’s crosses and cleared on several occasions. His impressive season keeps getting better. Reuters
    Ezri Konsa 7 – Solid performance. Was always wise to Arsenal’s crosses and cleared on several occasions. His impressive season keeps getting better. Reuters
  • Tyrone Mings 7 – His second clean sheet in as many away starts. He was rarely troubled on what was a very comfortable night. AP
    Tyrone Mings 7 – His second clean sheet in as many away starts. He was rarely troubled on what was a very comfortable night. AP
  • Matt Targett 6 – Had a slow start and was shaky for the first ten minutes, but was solid thereafter. Provided a perfect low cross for Villa’s opener. Getty
    Matt Targett 6 – Had a slow start and was shaky for the first ten minutes, but was solid thereafter. Provided a perfect low cross for Villa’s opener. Getty
  • Douglas Luiz 8 – Super performance. Luiz had the better of Thomas Partey in the first half, and his evening got easier when Partey hobbled off. Getty
    Douglas Luiz 8 – Super performance. Luiz had the better of Thomas Partey in the first half, and his evening got easier when Partey hobbled off. Getty
  • John McGinn 9 – McGinn was a key player at both ends. Had a goal disallowed, but his range of passing was superb and he was a constant threat down the middle. Getty
    John McGinn 9 – McGinn was a key player at both ends. Had a goal disallowed, but his range of passing was superb and he was a constant threat down the middle. Getty
  • Ross Barkley 9 – Looked full of confidence. Was adjudged to have been in an offside position for the disallowed goal, but made up for it with a sumptuous reverse pass for Villa’s second. Central to everything. AP
    Ross Barkley 9 – Looked full of confidence. Was adjudged to have been in an offside position for the disallowed goal, but made up for it with a sumptuous reverse pass for Villa’s second. Central to everything. AP
  • Trezeguet 8 – Was influential in the opening goal and offered Villa plenty of energy and composure in the final third. Getty
    Trezeguet 8 – Was influential in the opening goal and offered Villa plenty of energy and composure in the final third. Getty
  • Jack Grealish 9 – Villa’s midfield creator was constantly in the thick of the action. Came close to scoring himself in the second half when he forced Leno into a save, but he was dominant all game from the left. AP
    Jack Grealish 9 – Villa’s midfield creator was constantly in the thick of the action. Came close to scoring himself in the second half when he forced Leno into a save, but he was dominant all game from the left. AP
  • Ollie Watkins 9 – Grew into the game and linked well with Ross Barkley on numerous occasions. He headed home Villa’s second and slotted home a third through Leno’s legs. Reuters
    Ollie Watkins 9 – Grew into the game and linked well with Ross Barkley on numerous occasions. He headed home Villa’s second and slotted home a third through Leno’s legs. Reuters
  • SUB: Anwar El Ghazi N/A – Villa had peaked before El Ghazi came on and as such he struggled to keep pace with his teammates. Getty
    SUB: Anwar El Ghazi N/A – Villa had peaked before El Ghazi came on and as such he struggled to keep pace with his teammates. Getty