Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Title hopes dented after poor second half

Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video

It was a tale of two halves as Arsenal’s title challenge suffered a real blow after a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa. In the first, despite a bit of threat from Unai Emery’s side, we played well and had we been better and more efficient in the final third, we could have out of sight by half-time. In the second, our level dropped dramatically, we didn’t respond, and paid the price with the concession of two late goals.

Mikel Arteta’s team selection saw Gabriel Jesus start up front with Kai Havertz dropping back into midfield. We also had Leandro Trossard on the left and Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. Our movement was sharp, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz finding space in the channels and in behind. The German had a shot saved after a good Trossard pass, and Saka produced an excellent cross for Jesus who headed wide when he really should be hitting the target from that back post position.

Martin Odegaard was brilliant, pulling the strings in front of the Villa defence, and his pass to Saka deserved better than a poor touch and a wild shot wide of the near post. There was some joy with a ball to Havertz over the top, but while his running was good, he lacked decisiveness once he got into those positions.

We were on top, which is what made the moment when Zinchenko put the ball out so frustrating. Villa had Zaniolo down, pretending to be hurt after colliding with his own man. In that situation, I want ruthlessness, a mindset which says ‘Let’s take advantage of this’, but for some reason the left-back booted the ball out of play. Maybe nothing would have come of it, but at this level and with so much at stake, you don’t let any opposition off the hook like that. We had the ball high in their half, putting them under pressure, they gave it back to David Raya. Just maddening. I’m all for sportsmanship if someone is really, badly hurt, but this was not that.

There was more Odegaard brilliance,…

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Author : arseblog

Publish date : 2024-04-15 06:21:59

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