In the wake of Arsenal’s afternoon downfall, Mikel Arteta bears the weight of their missed opportunity. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat by Crystal Palace, Arsenal had the chance to assert their championship aspirations. However, it was Aston Villa, under the helm of Unai Emery, who reveled in triumph. Late strikes from substitute Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins shattered Arsenal’s hopes of ending their two-decade title drought.
Emery Haunts Arsenal Fans
Emery’s victory carries a bitter irony, having been dismissed by Arsenal in November 2019 after a mere 18 months at the helm. Now, he stands on the brink of steering Villa toward Champions League qualification. Arsenal’s faithful, who clung to hope until the final whistle, endured further anguish as both Watkins and Youri Tielemans struck the woodwork, narrowly avoiding further damage.
Arsenal’s youthful squad exhibited vulnerability reminiscent of last season, allowing Manchester City to overtake them. They now dread a recurrence of those shortcomings, as disastrous defending gifted Bailey the opening goal six minutes from time, followed by Watkins sealing the deal with his 19th goal of the season.
Tottenham’s defeat at Newcastle had fueled Emery’s squad to secure a result against his former club. They proved a more formidable opponent compared to their recent loss against City, with Watkins excelling in attack. Despite Arsenal’s pressure in the first half, the visitors displayed resilience. However, Arsenal’s attacks, led by Gabriel Jesus, lacked bite.
Havertz Flops Again
Despite his recent goal-scoring form as a forward, Arteta opted to deploy Kai Havertz in central midfield. Havertz missed two decent chances early on, squandering opportunities created by Saka and Trossard. Zinchenko made a crucial intervention to deny Watkins, while Villa’s defense frustrated Arsenal’s attempts to break through.
Although Arsenal dominated possession, they struggled to find a breakthrough. Villa maintained composure and possession throughout the second half, frustrating Arsenal further. As Emery remained animated on the sidelines, Arteta grew increasingly frustrated. Despite late efforts from Arsenal, Villa ultimately capitalized on defensive lapses to secure victory, leaving Arsenal’s fans disheartened.
In a foreshadowing glimpse of events to come, they narrowly evaded disaster when an errant pass from Gabriel Magalhães collided with the unsuspecting Zinchenko’s back. However, Watkins’ attempt rebounded off the post, thwarting their hopes for a goal. Remarkably, within half a minute, Martínez thwarted Trossard’s shot on the goal line, spurred by Jesus’s setup, in a frenzied conclusion to the initial period. Despite accumulating 14 shots, the hosts failed to seize the breakthrough they fervently sought.
Villa Grab A Deserved 3 Points
To Villa’s commendation, they effectively stymied Arsenal for extended durations by maintaining possession, a trend that persisted into the second half. Jesus went down, claiming a far-fetched penalty after a tangle with Diego Carlos, though a shot attempt seemed plausible. Referee David Coote dismissed his appeals.
While Emery animatedly engaged with each moment on the sideline, Arteta exuded frustration as his team struggled to reclaim their tempo post-interval, causing angst among home supporters. With a hint of optimism in the air, Villa’s traveling faithful found their voices as their team earned a corner just beyond the hour mark. Tielemans’ magnificent strike rattled off the crossbar after dispossessing the sluggish Zinchenko near his area.
Martínez thwarted Jesus’s curling shot during a swift Arsenal counterattack, prompting Arteta to introduce Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe from the bench. However, as minutes ticked away, Villa appeared increasingly likely to score the decisive goal, which they duly did.
Unnoticed by most, Bailey loitered at the far post as Lucas Digne’s cross trickled across the area. Evading Gabriel, William Saliba chose not to intervene, allowing the Jamaican to pounce on the opportunity. Watkins sealed Arsenal’s fate with a delicate finish, deflected into the top corner late on, sending Emery and Villa supporters into euphoria while leaving Arsenal’s faithful dreading the outcome.
One of the best outcomes all season in the EPL for Aston Villa by far.
