“100% duels lost, 8 times possession lost, 5 times dribbled past”- Mikel Arteta blasts Arsenal’s shaky player who was very terrible anddisastrouss today and cost Arsenal the 3 points against Aston villa
Mikel Arteta was frozen out – and so were the Gunners.
Unai Emery’s claret and blue machine chewed them up and spat them out as Villa Park witnessed history being made thanks to John McGinn’s early strike. Arsenal’s boss was forced to drink it all in from the Trinity Road Stand as he observed a one-match ban for celebrating excessively during the midweek drama at Kenilworth Road.
But the naked truth is that Arteta’s side only had themselves to blame as they relinquished top spot to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Emery’s surprise package are now breathing down their necks. Villa may have been riding the crest of a wave emotionally as they chalked up their 15th league win in succession – equalling a record that was set twice back in 1903 and 1932 respectively.
Their victory in midweek over champions Manchester City was arguably the best in a generation as they closed in on the landmark. But it took plenty out of them and Arsenal, with an extra day’s rest following their equally-dramatic victory at Luton wasted umpteen chances to prevent the history books from being re-written.
The goal that mattered arrived in the seventh minute – and Bukayo Saka had already missed one glorious opportunity before that.
Villa’s neat midfield interplay ended with Youri Tielemans setting Leon Bailey down the right. The Jamaica international – a man re-born under Emery – produced a step over and then went down the outside of Oleksandr Zinchenko. His clipped ball into the centre found McGinn with his back to goal. In a flash, the Scot produced a drag back, turned and slapped a left-footer beyond David Raya. It was a delightful piece of skill and gave Emery’s side a platform from which to build.
Arsenal re-grouped. Diego Carlos cleared off the line after Gabriel Martinelli lifted the ball over Martinez.
By the interval, the pattern of the match had been set. Arsenal attacked.
Villa tried to counter-punch. It seemed like a matter of time before they equalised. Zinchenko chipped one over the top for the umpteenth time, Havertz crossed to Odegaard on the penatly spot. He slashed wildly and another chance went begging.
Declan Rice thought he’d set Saka free. The winger beat Martinez to the ball and slotted into an empty net only for the offside flag to bring a halt to the celebrations. Ollie Watkins almost inadvertently put the ball into the net after a mix-up at a corner before there was a late scare.
A deep cross was contested by Matt Cash and Havertz. The ball appeared to hit both on the arm but ref Jarred Gillett blew for a foul against the Arsenal man before Villa Park erupted at the final blast of the Aussie’s whistle.
