Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video
It was a story of two halves as Arsenal’s title problem suffered an actual blow after a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Within the first, regardless of a little bit of risk from Unai Emery’s aspect, we performed properly and had we been higher and extra environment friendly within the remaining third, we might have out of sight by half-time. Within the second, our degree dropped dramatically, we didn’t reply, and paid the value with the concession of two late targets.
Mikel Arteta’s crew choice noticed Gabriel Jesus begin up entrance with Kai Havertz dropping again into midfield. We additionally had Leandro Trossard on the left and Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. Our motion was sharp, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz discovering house within the channels and in behind. The German had a shot saved after a great Trossard move, and Saka produced a superb cross for Jesus who headed broad when he actually needs to be hitting the goal from that again put up place.
Martin Odegaard was sensible, pulling the strings in entrance of the Villa defence, and his move to Saka deserved higher than a poor contact and a wild shot broad of the close to put up. There was some pleasure with a ball to Havertz excessive, however whereas his operating was good, he lacked decisiveness as soon as he bought into these positions.
We have been on high, which is what made the second when Zinchenko put the ball out so irritating. Villa had Zaniolo down, pretending to be damage after colliding along with his personal man. In that scenario, I would like ruthlessness, a mindset which says ‘Let’s make the most of this’, however for some cause the left-back booted the ball out of play. Possibly nothing would have come of it, however at this degree and with a lot at stake, you don’t let any opposition off the hook like that. We had the ball excessive of their half, placing them underneath strain, they gave it again to David Raya. Simply maddening. I’m all for sportsmanship if somebody is basically, badly damage, however this was not that.
There was extra Odegaard brilliance, discovering a move to Havertz whose cross was headed over by Saka, earlier than a mistake on the again from Gabriel – firing a move into the again of Zinchenko – noticed Ollie Watkins hit the put up, the ball rebounding throughout the road and simply past the far put up. Then got here what I feel is a pivotal second, after an Odegaard shot was blocked, the ball fell for Jesus who squared for Trossard. He had all of the objective to purpose at, however put it straight at Emi Martinez. For me that is way more a foul miss than an important save, and it’s arduous to not marvel how issues may need gone had we taken a lead into the break.
However, I used to be comparatively assured. If we might preserve that degree, absolutely we’d discover a manner by way of. Sadly, we couldn’t. There’s little doubt Villa have been higher within the second interval, and one of the best crew after the break, with out actually creating an excessive amount of. Zinchenko gave them a serving to hand with daft carelessness on the sting of our personal field after we’d defended a nook (did he attempt a nutmeg there?!), Youri Tielemans’ shot hit each bar and put up with Raya overwhelmed all finally ends up.
By that time Villa had changed Moussa Diaby with Leon Bailey, and I feel my fundamental criticism of this second half is how gradual Mikel Arteta was to react and to try to change the momentum. Takehiro Tomiyasu got here on for Ben White, who had been booked, in order that was kind of like for like, whereas Gabriel Martinelli changed Trossard. That did little to affect the best way the sport was being performed, or our means to get a foothold in midfield which, when you think about the gamers Villa have been lacking, isn’t a great reflection on how Arteta managed this sport.
It was the eightieth minute when he despatched on Jorginho for Odegaard (Arteta stated he was ‘feeling one thing’ – my guess is: ‘bereft that we don’t have the ahead gamers to capitalise on his first half brilliance’), and Smith Rowe for Jesus. Neither participant helped, and Villa’s strain continued with numerous corners, whereas we struggled to create something. One other nook introduced their first objective, we bought it clear, Villa performed it again into the within left channel, and a speculative ball throughout our field discovered Bailey unmarked to fit house for 1-0.
A ball like that ought to by no means get that far, Raya will not be actually doing a lot at his entrance put up, and on the again, Declan Rice is asleep, unaware of the place Bailey is. He has been very good for us this season, however yesterday was not one in all his greatest days. As for the second, Jorginho – introduced on to present us some safety in possession – gave it away excessive up the pitch, they despatched Watkins clear with one move, and regardless of the efforts of Smith Rowe, it was 2-0. I feel there’s a slight contact of fine fortune concerning the end, in that it hits Smith Rowe and deflects up and over Raya, however while you let a participant like Watkins have that type of house, there’s actually solely ever going to be one end result when he’s within the type of kind he’s proven this season.
Late targets in opposition to are at all times essentially the most painful, however on this title race, and having seen Liverpool lose to Crystal Palace earlier within the day, these felt like actual daggers to the center. It says one thing about what all of us perceive of the Premier League as of late {that a} single defeat to go away us simply a few factors behind Man Metropolis with 6 video games nonetheless to play can really feel like the top of the times, however that’s the fact we’ve develop into accustomed to. There’s little to no margin for error, it felt like our blip at Christmas is perhaps recoverable, however while you make one at this level it’s mainly deadly.
After all, something can occur. It’s attainable that Metropolis may drop factors someplace, and that’s the mindset the supervisor and the gamers must have, however ask any fan of Arsenal, Liverpool, or most likely another crew at this time, they usually’ll let you know there’s an inevitability about what occurs subsequent. We’ve seen this film earlier than. 115 occasions, maybe, however it’s what it’s.
It additionally explains why after an excellent 2024, wherein we’ve performed 12, gained 10, drawn 1, and misplaced simply 1, we’re all feeling so down at this time. Within the context of that run, of what this crew has produced during the last three months, it’s one dangerous sport … possibly even only one dangerous half … and but it’s actual intestine punch which now opens the door for Man Metropolis to go and do what they at all times do. The truth is that to beat them to the title, you need to mainly be good, and what that second half advised us yesterday is that we nonetheless have work to do to try to obtain that. And that’s leaving apart the ridiculousness of getting do this within the first place, as a result of it’s not regular, as a lot as we is perhaps accustomed to it.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta urged his crew to react in the correct manner, beginning with Bayern on Wednesday:
Now could be the second to face up as a frontrunner, as a personality to make your self rely as a result of while you win and win and win and win for 4 months, it’s quite simple to do it. The second is now.
It’s actually the one message he can ship, as a result of there’s nonetheless loads to play for. There’s a giant trophy accessible in Europe, and if one thing surprising occurs within the Premier League, we now have to be prepared for that too. There is no such thing as a different method to strategy issues, however after a troublesome day yesterday, it will likely be a problem for Arteta to raise his crew, drained legs and all, for what lies forward. Let’s hope he can do it, as a result of if yesterday had us down for a rely of 8, it’s not a knock-out blow … but, anyway.
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Okay, let’s go away it there for now. We’re recording an Arsecast Further for you this morning, so preserve a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or should you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Podcast needs to be out round midday. Till then.
