Gary Neville reserved special praise for Riccardo Calafiori after Arsenal’s gritty 1-0 win over Aston Villa, applauding the defender’s ‘outstanding’ performance.
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.
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.
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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.
Saka will take many of the plaudits after netting his second goal in what has been a hugely encouraging start to the 2026/27 campaign. The forward managed a total of only seven top-flight goals all season 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.
‘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.
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‘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.’
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.
