Manchester City v Aston Villa player ratings: Rodri 9, De Bruyne 8; Watkins 7, Buendia 4

Champions ease to 3-1 win at Etihad to close gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: Had large periods with nothing to do but did well to get a hand on Luiz’s corner delivery and reach Young’s ball forward ahead of Watkins. Didn’t even move for Watkins’ goal but did well to deal with Coutinho’s late shot. AP

Aymeric Laporte - 6: Blocked Bailey’s early shot after the Jamaican threatened to get behind but played some poor passes, one of which contributed to Silva losing possession for Villa’s goal. Reuters

Ruben Dias – 8: Often looked composed in his defending, notably putting in a superb tackle to stop Bailey running through. Also stepped out from the back well when there wasn’t a passing option but couldn’t get enough on his header to hit the target. Was brought off at half time. EPA

Kyle Walker - 6: Played some brilliant long passes and eased Bailey off the ball when a break was on, but did put his team in danger with an overly nonchalant pass. Struggled at times in the latter stages after Coutinho and Moreno came on. AFP

Bernardo Silva - 7: Absolutely everywhere, even in the problematic left-back position on occasion. Slipped the ball through as Grealish won the penalty but then lost possession for Villa’s goal and had some sloppy moments towards the end. EPA

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri (R) celebrates with Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (C) after City score their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 12, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Had a shot well saved by Martinez but showed determination and intelligence to get into the position to score City’s second. Slipped a nice ball through to Grealish and hit a couple of ambitious shots that didn’t trouble Martinez. PA

Kevin De Bruyne - 8: Brilliant in his build-up play, making bursts forward and playing the ball forward that resulted in Gundogan’s goal. Provided some nice moments to capture the imagination when the match was drifting towards its close. AFP

Riyad Mahrez - 8: Provided the corner delivery for Rodri’s opener, scored from the penalty spot, as well as providing some lovely touches and passes. Hit a shocking shot comfortably over the crossbar before going off. EPA

Jack Grealish - 8: Very lively against his former club from the very first whistle. Hit a volley with brilliant technique that was deflected wide, then won the penalty for City’s third. Played a great cross for Alvarez’s chance after a poor first touch. AFP

Erling Haaland - 7: Couldn’t convert when Ramsey’s attempted clearance fell to him, but showed a superb burst of pace and composure to set up Gundogan for City’s second. Brought off at half time. Getty

SUBS: Julian Alvarez (Haaland 45') - 6: Showed good awareness to set up a chance for Rodri but couldn’t get a clean connection on his strike from the Spaniard’s cross, then saw his header blocked by Konsa. Should have had an assist after playing Mahrez in. AP

Manuel Akanji (Dias 45') - 5: Didn’t do enough to stop Watkins getting his shot off for Villa’s goal and was beaten in the air as Watkins flicked the ball on for Duran’s chance. Getty

Phil Foden (Grealish 69’) - 5: Showed good energy going forward but never really got the ball in a threatening position. Allowed Moreno to get behind him in his own box. Getty

Nathan Ake (Mahrez 85’) – N/R: Added a bit more defensive solidity as City saw out the game. Reuters

ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emi Martinez - 5: Beaten by the power on Rodri’s header for the first and couldn’t do anything about the other goals, but made good saves to deny Gundogan, Grealish and Rodri. Some of his distribution was poor. AP

Ashley Young - 4: Took up a poor position for the opener, then showed a real lack of awareness to leave Gundogan free at the back post for City’s second. Also struggled to deal with Grealish. AP

Calum Chambers - 5: Made a complete mess of his header in the build-up to Gundogan’s goal, although he did do well to deflect Grealish’s volley wide and made some good interventions, especially in the second half. EPA

Ezri Konsa - 6: Made some good blocks and interventions to deny the likes of Silva, De Bruyne and Grealish, although his poor clearance resulted in a chance for Rodri. Booked for a robust challenge on Alvarez after losing the ball, then made a great block to stop the Argentine’s header. AFP

Lucas Digne - 4: Beaten by Mahrez on various occasions and received a booking for an accumulation of fouls on the Algerian. To the Frenchman’s credit, he stayed persistent. His misplaced pass resulted in a chance for Alvarez. Getty

Jacob Ramsey - 4: Struggled to have any sort of attacking impact and clumsily tripped Grealish for City’s penalty. EPA

Boubacar Kamara - 5: Often looked helpless in the first half, losing Rodri as he headed home the opener, then was left to watch as De Bruyne drifted past him to set up a City opportunity. The Frenchman did do well to match Rodri’s header from De Bruyne’s free-kick and went on to have a better second period. AFP

Douglas Luiz - 6: His corner delivery made things awkward for Ederson and the City defence, but often cut a frustrated figure before playing Watkins through for his goal. Getty

Emi Buendia - 4: Put in some decent defensive work at times but was anonymous for most of the game before showing his frustration at being taken off. AFP

Leon Bailey - 6: Had very little to go off but had a couple of nearly moments, seeing two shots blocked after getting into decent positions. Hit by a big tackle from Dias. AP

Ollie Watkins - 7: Showed energy whenever the ball was near him and eventually got his reward with a cool finish after being played through. Won the flick on for Duran’s chance. EPA

SUBS: Jhon Duran (Bailey 60’) - 6: Looked lively, putting good pressure on Silva to help Luiz regain possession for the goal moments after coming on to the pitch. Was unlucky to see his ball to Watkins cut out, then even more hard done by when his strike smashed the crossbar. Reuters

John McGinn (Buendia 60’) - 5: Filled in well defensively at times and tried to make things happen but played a disappointing pass in a promising position. AFP

Alex Moreno (Digne 60’) - 6: Got behind Foden and tested Ederson with his cross attempt, showing plenty of willingness. Was also an upgrade on Digne defensively. Reuters

Philippe Coutinho (Ramsey 76’) – N/R: Brought Villa to life and forced Ederson into a good save with an audacious shot. Reuters

Matty Cash (Young 76’) – N/R: Looked solid defensively, even if he did commit a cynical foul on Foden. Getty

Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League's charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend's loss at Tottenham Hotspur.

With the club facing more than 100 charges relating to alleged financial misconduct the home fans were in belligerent mood at the Etihad Stadium with a series of ironic chants.

On the pitch, City's players showed they have not been distracted by the developments as they effectively wrapped up the points before the halftime whistle.

Pep Guardiola's side needed only four minutes to take the lead when Rodri headed in Riyad Mahrez's corner and they were cruising when Erling Haaland set up Gundogan in the 39th minute.

Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa captain Jack Grealish.

Ollie Watkins scored for the third successive league match to reduce the deficit on the hour mark and Villa also struck the woodwork through substitute Jhon Duran late on but City never looked in any real danger of dropping points.

Champions City have 48 points from 22 games to Arsenal's 51 from 21 and can go top if they win at Arsenal on Wednesday.

Danny Lewis has provided the player ratings from the Etihad Stadium in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.