Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher singled out Riccardo Calafiori for special praise after Arsenal's gritty 1-0 win over Aston Villa, with the former hailing the defender's 'outstanding' performance and the latter calling him 'far and away' the Premier League's best left-back.
Unai Emery's 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. 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's travelling support into raptures.
Calafiori's display earns plaudits from pundits
Mikel Arteta's 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. 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.
Saka will take 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. 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.
Neville: 'He was outstanding'
'Aston Villa are building back after losing a lot of players but for Arsenal, sometimes you think of a statement win being 3-0, 4-0 or 5-0… that's a statement win where you just restrict the other team from having chances and shots on goal,' ex-Manchester United and England right-back Neville said on Sky Sports' commentary of the match. 'They were completely in control, measured, patient, mature, been around the block.'
'I think Calafiori could have been my man of the match tonight, he was outstanding. He'll be really happy, Mikel Arteta, because his team are consistent and they're reliable – that's all you want in a football player.'
Carragher: 'Far and away the best left-back'
Watching back Saka's goal in the Sky Sports studio, Carragher highlighted Calafiori's contribution in the build-up. According to the former Liverpool and England defender, the Italy international is 'far and away' the best left-back in the Premier League.
'Calafiori gets the cross in because Saka's inside and gets the goal,' Carragher said. 'That constant rotation of movement when you watch Arsenal play, especially from full-back, is something I don't think we see any other team in the Premier League do. It's a really standout for them. And especially this guy [Calafiori]… Ben White, of course, we know, he's got a great relationship with Saka. But for me, Calafiori is far and away the best left-back in the Premier League. He's absolutely fantastic.'
Henry impressed by Arsenal's resilience
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was similarly impressed by Arsenal's resilient performance against an obstinate Villa side. 'It's very much what we saw from Arsenal away from home last year,' the iconic Frenchman said. 'That determination, everybody runs when they lose the ball, they defend together. There were no shots on target against them today. Great job and I know people will tell me, “Yeah, but Villa are a struggling”, but Villa made it as difficult as they could make it for Arsenal. Saka came up with the goal from a great move on the outside.'
Arsenal's victory keeps them perfect after two matches, and they will now prepare for a home clash with Chelsea, where they will aim to extend their winning start to the season.
