That was a mantra that I heard when I was first getting into football and it’s something that has stuck with me even since – top teams do not lose games in stoppage time. I’m harping back to the late 90s now when Arsenal and Manchester United were slugging it out at the summit of the Premier League and although both teams let in the odd late goal, I don’t ever remember them losing the game in the fashion that Arsenal did today. It just wouldn’t have happened. It’s not professional. If you’re having a bad day, like Arsenal were today, you shut up shop and you take your medicine and come away with a point. Arsenal were unable to see out the last 10 seconds of the game at Villa Park today as they failed to clear their lines on a number of occasions and consequently lost their second game of the season. Not gonna lie, this is a real painful one and I’ve not been able to shake the deep well of disappointment ever since the full-time whistle went. Which coincidentally was pretty much the same second that Emi Buendia stroked home the Aston Villa winner!!
The game hadn’t really gone our way from the word go as we seem to be second to everything in the first half and were grateful to David Raya on numerous occasions before Matty Cash finally opened the scoring. Eberechi Eze had switched off earlier in the game to allow Cash a free swing at goal however, in that instance Declan Rice bailed out his teammate and made a terrific block to keep our clean sheet intact. Barely 10 minutes late, Eze did the unforgivable and repeated the same trick, allowing Cash to ghost in behind him and make it 1-0 to Villa. It was truly embarrassing defending, and I think it really could have an impact on where future minutes in this Arsenal lie, as he just doesn’t seem right out there on the left. For all of his struggles over the past couple of seasons, Gabriel Martinelli has always been switched on defensively and did his bit for the team in our half, which is probably one of the reasons that Mikel Arteta likes him so much. You just don’t get that some diligence from Eze and I’m not sure we ever will.
Mikel Arteta wasted no time during the interval as the ineffectual Eze was halled off at half time, along with Mikel Merino who looked tired, and on game Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres.
The improvement in Arsenal was instant. There seemed more energy, more passion, more aggression and much, much more threat, as the Gunners came out of the blocks flying and had already passed up a few decent opportunities when Leandro Trossard poked home at the back post. It was all that Arsenal deserved and at that point, it looked like Arsenal would just steamroll Villa and take all three points, in the similar way that they did to Bayern Munich in the recent game that seems about 6 months ago now!!
To their credit, Villa rallied and came back into the game well and the game became reminiscent of a cup tie for the next 5-10 minutes with both sides threatening, albeit with Villa’s mostly on the break or when Arsenal gave away possession cheapy on occasion. Martin Odegaard had a few sighters and drew a fine save from one time Arsenal man, Emi Martinez, and I know it’s easy to say in hindsight, but despite all of our pressure and time on the ball, it always felt like Villa were carrying more threat throughout the game. I just don’t think Arsenal have an answer for Morgan Rogers when he makes those runs through midfield. Even in the same fixture last season, where Arsenal won 2-0, I think it was largely down to luck and unbelievable goalkeeping that we kept a clean sheet, as Rogers tore threw us at numerous different times during the game and Villa just didn’t make the most of it.
Both teams turned to their benches again in the last quarter with Arsenal introducing Noni Madueke, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli to try and turn the game in the late stages. It would be one of Villa’s substitutes that would have the telling contribution as Buendia stroked home deep into stoppage time to bring the Arsenal players to their knees. On the balance of play, I’d say a draw was probably a fair result, but as we all know, football is rarely fair. It leaves Arsenal’s lead at a fragile looking 2 points with Manchester City and now Aston Villa only three points behind the Gunners and Arsenal’s stroll to the title all a sudden looks more like a crawl and one that seems less and less inevitable. This was a painful one for all in Arsenal colours and the question now remains, what are Arsenal going to do with that pain? Channel it in a positive way and make this a turning point in their season or allow it to drag them down below the chasing pack. Let’s hope they us it!
David Raya – 8 PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. Kept Arsenal in at times with some top saves and he seemed to be one a one-man mission to stop Ollie Watkins at one stage (a battle which he one!). Did his best to keep out the late goalmouth scramble but was ultimately let down by those in front of him.
Ben White – 7
Another solid showing in his return to the team. Offering threat on the overlap and did well defensively against Rogers. Was one of many players caught out during the embarrassing defending that led to the winning goal.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Was once again asked to deputise in central defence and despite his lack of height, he did okay although I much prefer him at fullback. Was turned inside out by Watkins in the build up to the big first half chance and although he was good on the ball and seemed even more assured pushing forward from that position than the likes of Saliba, he just lacks the assuredness when facing his own goal that the specialist centre halves bring.
Piero Hincapie – 7
Was going to be my player of the match before the late drama. Carelessly let the ball roll out for the cheapest of cheap throw-ins which ultimately led to the Buendia goal. More than harsh however, consistent with my previous ratings, he lost a point for that moment as that’s what it cost his club. The margins are small at this level and he gifted Villa the impetus with his inability to use his right foot to clear the ball up field and that is unforgivable in a professional footballer.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7
Again, got into some wild positions when Arsenal were in possession but wasn’t found by his teammates. Solid enough defensively and managed most of what came down his side. Booked so will be suspended when we play Wolves on Saturday.
Martin Zubimendi – 7
A bit pedestrian in the first half but was the driving force behind Arsenal’s resurgence at the start of the second as his duel winning ability really came to the fore. Went missing at times when Rogers tore through midfield and didn’t quite have the same control as in previous games.
Declan Rice – 7
Not as influential as he has been, but he was still very good today. Put in a heroic block in the first half and was always trying to drive Arsenal forward. Set pieces weren’t quite on point although it’s much harder when you only have a couple of 5”10 centre backs to aim for! Tired towards the end and was one of the many players in the Arsenal box who failed to get the ball away for the winning goal.
Martin Odegaard – 8
More like the Odegaard of old. Was always busy, always willing to take the ball under pressure, always busy. Had a few great shots at goal, one of which was so close to giving Arsenal the lead. Also played a lovely couple of through balls to split open the Villa defence, one of which led to the equaliser. Great performance.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Was really good in the first half and seemed to have the beating of Maatsen time and again. Starting the second half well and created the goal for Trossard to poke home, via Martinez’s deflection into the Belgian’s path. Linked up well with Odegaard and White all game, as they all revelled in the returning chemistry that they have built together. Faded a bit and was subbed for Madueke however, given what the substitute brought to the game, it would have been much better to leave Saka on the pitch instead.
Mikel Merino – 5
Couldn’t get into the game at all which you would imagine is due to the amount of minutes in his legs these past few weeks. Withdrawn at the break.
Eberechi Eze – 4
I’ve not seen enough of his football pre-Arsenal days so I’m not able to comment on his football careers as whole however, this was by far his worse appearance in an Arsenal shirt. Completely non-existent in an attacking sense and a liability at the back which ultimately led to the first goal for Villa which left us with another lead to chase. Not good enough today and rightly hooked at the break.
Subs:
Leandro Trossard – 8 – Changed the game when he came on and got yet another goal from the bench to drag us back into the game. His celebration said it all for me, he almost seemed angry that he had to come on and do that for the team. Is becoming a real leader out there and if he had been fit enough to impact the game for longer than he did, the result could have been very different.
Viktor Gyokeres – 4 – Made one pass in the second half and failed to hold the ball up on several occasions. Has a real fight on his hands to retain the number 9 shirt and with Havertz and Jesus returning soon, he could find himself even further down the pecking order. Anonymous.
Noni Madueke – 4 – I’m concerned that we’re starting to see the player that we were worried Arsenal were signing when we all first heard his name linked to our club. Dribbling was hit and miss and he seemed to be a long way from producing anything resembling the end product. Poor effort in stoppage time as he tamely shot wide when well placed. Concerning.
Gabriel Martinelli – 5 – Seemed like a perfect game state to bring him into, but in all honesty I don’t remember him touching the ball in an attacking sense. Worked hard defensively.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 5 – Wasn’t able to stop the cross coming in which lead to the late goal although there is plenty of blame to share round on that one.