{"id":1179687,"date":"2026-08-31T22:40:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T22:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1179687\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T22:40:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T22:40:23","slug":"gary-neville-and-jamie-carragher-single-out-outstanding-arsenal-star-after-aston-villa-win-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1179687\/","title":{"rendered":"Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher single out ‘outstanding’ Arsenal star after Aston Villa win | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tJamie Carragher and Gary Neville waxed lyrical about Riccardo Calafiori after Arsenal\u2019s victory (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Gary Neville<\/a> reserved special praise for Riccardo Calafiori<\/a> after Arsenal\u2019s gritty 1-0 win over Aston Villa, applauding the defender\u2019s \u2018outstanding\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n

Unai Emery\u2019s Villa side responded well in a spirited first-half display after being thumped 4-0 by Brighton in their opening match of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n

But the reigning English champions found their breakthrough on the hour-mark as a marauding Calafiori got in behind and crossed to Saka, who scrambled the ball home to send Arsenal\u2019s travelling support into raptures.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s men held firm to emerge with all three points, maintaining their 100 per cent record in the division in the process while also registering their second clean sheet in as many games.<\/p>\n

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The north Londoners will look to continue in the same vein when they return to action next weekend at home to bitter rivals Chelsea at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

Saka will take the many of the plaudits after netting his second of the campaign, an immensely positive start after managing a total of only seven goals all season in the English top flight last term.<\/p>\n

However, Sky Sports pundits Neville and Carragher both felt Calafiori was the star of the show with his lung-busting showing from left-back at Villa Park.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Bukayo
\n\t\tSaka scored the only goal of the game at Villa Park
(Picture: Paul Currie\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"BIRMINGHAM,
\n\t\tCalafiori provided the assist for Saka\u2019s breakthrough (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Aston Villa<\/a> are building back after losing a lot of players but for Arsenal<\/a>, sometimes you think of a statement win being 3-0, 4-0 or 5-0\u2026 that\u2019s a statement win where you just restrict the other team from having chances and shots on goal,\u2019 ex-Manchester United and England right-back Neville said on Sky Sports\u2019 commentary of the match.<\/p>\n

\u2018They were completely in control, measured, patient, mature, been around the block.<\/p>\n

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\u2018I think Calafiori could have been my man of the match tonight, he was outstanding.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019ll be really happy, Mikel Arteta<\/a>, because his team are consistent and they\u2019re reliable \u2013 that\u2019s all you want in a football player.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal's
\n\t\tThe champions have scored four unanswered goals to kick off their title defence (Picture: AP)<\/p>\n

Watching back Saka\u2019s goal in the Sky Sports studio, Carragher highlighted Calafiori\u2019s contribution in the build-up.<\/p>\n

According to the former Liverpool and England defender, the Italy international is \u2018far and away\u2019 the best left-back in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\u2018Calafiori gets the cross in because Saka\u2019s inside and gets the goal,\u2019 Carragher said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Christos
\n\t\tThe Gunners recorded a second successive clean sheet (Picture: Paul Currie\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

\u2018That constant rotation of movement when you watch Arsenal play, especially from full-back, is something I don\u2019t think we see any other team in the Premier League do. It\u2019s a really standout for them.<\/p>\n

\u2018And especially this guy [Calafiori]\u2026 Ben White, of course, we know, he\u2019s got a great relationship with Saka.<\/p>\n

\u2018But for me, Calafiori is far and away the best left-back in the Premier League. He\u2019s absolutely fantastic.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was similarly impressed by Arsenal\u2019s resilient performance against an obstinate Villa side.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s very much what we saw from Arsenal away from home last year,\u2019 the iconic Frenchman said.<\/p>\n

\u2018That determination, everybody runs when they lose the ball, they defend together. There were no shots on target against them today.<\/p>\n

\u2018Great job and I know people will tell me, \u201cYeah, but Villa are a struggling\u201d, but Villa made it as difficult as they could make it for Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Saka came up with the goal from a great move on the outside.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Gary Neville \u2018not surprised\u2019 to see \u2018struggling\u2019 Arsenal star hooked against Aston Villa<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Paul Scholes urges Man Utd to explore \u00a375m transfer after defender got \u2018done\u2019 against Ipswich<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Arsenal icon Thierry Henry makes \u2018confident\u2019 Premier League title claim<\/a><\/p>\n


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