Another trip to the Midlands, another Arsenal moment of madness

Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 0
Premier League
Saturday 6th February 2021 12.30pm

The game at Villa Park was settled within the first two minutes due to Cedric’s casual lay-off pass to Gabriel, who did not anticipate having to run onto the ball and saw it taken away from him by Traore, who found Olly Watkins in the centre. His deflected shot off Rob Holding beat debutant keeper Mathew Ryan, who tried to stop it but was blameless. That turned out to be game over. After a pretty decent run since Christmas, recent matches have seen Arsenal gift goals to the opposition, and have their numbers on the pitch reduced, due to some poor decision-making. 

Perhaps at this stage, an overview is required. This from a mate of mine, Tel, this morning: “15 games to go and we have already lost 10 games... we only lost 10 games all of last season... we are scoring just over a goal a game this season, last season it was 1.5 a game... we're losing a game every 2.3 games, on that basis we are going to lose another 6 or so games, making 16/17 for this season... our biggest ever Premier League losing season was 17 in 94/95 when George Graham got sacked. Last season at this stage we were still in the FA Cup, now we're out.... this is more of Mikel Arteta’s team than last season yet we are worse off & possibly heading for our greatest losses in the Premier League & no FA Cup to salvage our season... is this an improvement, going in the right direction?”

Do the stats lie? Well, they are ultimately what determine the title, and European qualification, in terms of points won at least. The real concern about Arsenal is their lack of consistency. In mitigation, that’s been a factor for a lot of clubs this season, and if the Gunners were to put together a few wins and draws over the next few weeks, it would not be untypical of a lot of the clubs around them. VAR and the lack of home support have led to a lack of predictability in results. Perhaps, ironically, what may serve Arteta well is that it has been individual errors that have cost points in the last two matches. Until then, the signs of defensive solidity were very encouraging, with two goals conceded in the six league matches that started with the Boxing Day win over Chelsea. So in principle, things are improving, but how does a manager legislate for individual errors? By dropping the offending individuals? Suspension took care of David Luiz and Bernd Leno yesterday, and it has to be said that the latter’s replacement Mathew Ryan was Arsenal’s best player yesterday. 

As for left back, the Soares experiment has had mixed results, and until Kieran Tierney’s return, perhaps it might be time to play Saka there again. Up front, Aubameyang and Martinelli can compensate for him, or Smith Rowe can play wide as he did when Odegaard came on against Villa. Pepe played with more commitment than normal yesterday, so is starting to realize what is required to remain in the first team. Quality in his shooting and decision making need work, but his sheer unpredictability is a weapon of sorts. I think Arteta is going to stick with him, although as pointed out on ‘Match of the Day’, he needs to be making more aggressive runs into space in the area to get on the end of crosses when numbers are light in the middle, a consequence of Lacazette working outside the box to link up play. 

Villa were very well organized defensively, with a lot of cynical play and tactical rotation fouling. John Terry’s influence on the team is obvious, and might not be pretty to watch, but it’s working. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it was he who coached Emi Martinez to commit the shirt-pulling foul on Lacazette to win a free kick from a corner – astonishing VAR did not see that given the other way, although maybe it isn’t used when the defending team is awarded a foul in their own area. Having just escaped relegation last season, Villa’s ability to gain points by hook, crook or the John Terry playbook see them four points better off than their beaten opponents yesterday lunchtime with two games in hand. Arsenal, like Villa, Wolves, Everton and Newcastle, are in danger of becoming a mid-table team with an evocative history. Four FA Cup wins have seen glory since the last title win, and silverware is always welcome, but Champions League football is starting to feel like a distant memory now. Europa League participation may not happen next season, and one wonders if the board will continue to keep faith with Arteta if he cannot at least deliver seventh place. 

The dilemma is that when Arsenal do play well, you can see how this could work. The lack of consistency is what kills. For many years now, we can never be certain which Arsenal is going to turn up. Hence the lack of a title challenge. Creatively, they struggle too much against organized defences, especially if Aubameyang is not firing on all cylinders. On that note, surely he will start against Leeds. It may be worth resting Smith Rowe for that game simply to give him a breather and have a proper assessment of what Odegaard can bring to the team. Move Saka to left back and allow him to combine with Aubameyang on the left flank. Facing a Marco Bielsa side, there is no question it will be an open game. 

Whatever happens, we won’t see the defensive lines of Villa, so can expect a different type of game. In their last eleven League matches, only twice have their been less than three goals. Arsenal have a week off until that match, with no involvement in the midweek FA Cup ties. It’s a chance for Arteta to iron out the poor defensive moments that have cost his team six points and put paid to the momentum that had been built up. He needs the players to put together another run to get anything out of this season and – depending on how much ambition there is amongst the power brokers at the club – perhaps save his job.

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