Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference

Final Result: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (McGinn 7′)

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko (Nelson 94′), Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli (Trossard 70′), Saka, Jesus (Nketiah 82′)

Arsenal knew that Aston Villa were certainly no pushovers, with Unai Emery’s side coming into the game high in confidence after their impressive showing against the defending champions, Manchester City. 

However, the Gunners began the contest well with Gabriel Martinelli swinging a cross to Bukayo Saka’s direction but the Starboy’s control failed him, as the Ball crept away from his feet. Aston Villa opened the scoring early on, and it proved to be the match winner when Leon Bailey kickstarted an attack from the right with Oleksandr Zinchenko out of position. Bailey received the ball from Youri Tielemans and bore down on goal with Gabriel tracking back instead of going for the tackle. Bailey’s cut back found John McGinn that had acres of space in the six-yard box before blasting the ball home.

That was shambolic defending at best with Zinchenko, Gabriel and Ben White culpable for the goal conceded.

Kai Havertz won the ball further up the pitch and fed Saka for a good chance, but the winger hesitated before firing a shot that was blocked by Diego Carlos. Shortly afterwards, Saka created a half chance for himself and curled the ball to the far corner, but Emiliano Martinez was on hand to make a routine save.

With Aston Villa keeping a high line, Gabriel dinked the ball over the defense to the path of Martinelli that lobbed an onrushing Martinez but neither Jesus nor Saka was close to the danger area to attack the ball. The offside flag spared their blushes anyway. The biggest chance for Arsenal fell at the feet of captain, Martin Odegaard, that received a first time pass from Jesus in the penalty spot and chose precision ahead of power, allowing Martinez to make a diving save. 

Late in the first half, Jesus fired a shot that was saved by Martinez. Early in the second half, Jesus was clearly impeded in the box but Arsenal’s penalty claims fell on deaf ears. Saka swung in a corner that left Martinez scrambling as he parried the ball to Ollie Watkins’ back, but luckily for the Aston Villa goalie, the ball ricocheted to the post before he smothered it. A few inches and it would have been an embarrassing own goal. 

Aston Villa soaked a lot of Arsenal pressure and managed to come out of the blocks when Lucas Digne fashioned a chance for himself but David Raya made the save. Arsenal put the ball at the back of the net when Saka responded swiftly to a diagonal ball, chipping the onrushing Martinez and guiding the ball to the unguarded net but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. If Saka had timed his run well, that would have been the well-deserved equalizer.

With Arsenal going for broke, some spaces were left at the back as Moussa Diaby drilled a cut back to Watkins that hit the ball hard but Raya made a good save. Late on, there was some VAR controversy as a cross deep into the Aston Villa box was attacked by Havertz and Matty Cash, but a free kick was awarded to the home side after the review. Following the goalmouth scramble, Havertz had poked the ball into the net, but it was ruled out. 

Added time was not enough, as Arsenal failed to return to the top of the table, after ousted by Liverpool’s narrow victory over Crystal Palace early in the day. Aston Villa’s win also put them on an impressive 35 points, one behind Arsenal and two behind Premier League leaders, Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta rued the missed opportunities in his post-match presser and the captain wants out heads to remain held high. Unlike the Man City game at Villa Park where they were outclassed with Aston Villa having 22 shots to their two, Arsenal had 12 shots to Aston Villa’s 10, four big chances that were not taken and a whopping 62 percent possession.

However, the most important stat was the one on the score board, and at the end of the day, it was three points dropped in a tough night at Villa Park.

Sayonara.

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