Gunners’ quality secures vital points at Villa Park

Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1  
Premier League  
Saturday 19th March 2022 12.30pm   

Arsenal’s record at Villa Park has been woeful since the Midlands club’s return to the top flight in the summer of 2019, with two defeats, both under Mikel Arteta’s watch. The Gunners were nowhere near Champions League qualification in either of those seasons, but yesterday lunchtime’s kick off had far more at stake for the visiting team, because it was important to re-establish momentum and boost their chances of a top four place after the midweek defeat to Liverpool.

It was easy to see that gulf in quality between Arsenal’s opponents. Villa may have Liverpool connections in the form of Gerrard and McAllister issuing instructions, and Coutinho and even Danny Ings on the playing staff, but it was chalk and cheese in terms of the levels of performance required to win the game. It almost felt like there are three levels in the top half of the Premier League now – title contenders, 4^th place contenders, and Europa League contenders. Villa will consider it a major achievement to just qualify for continental competition, although of course what can never be taken away is their European Cup triumph in the early 1980s.

Arteta was forced into two changes with Bernd Leno replacing the injured Ramsdale, who he says will be absent for a few weeks, and the ill Martinelli. It meant a rare start for Emile Smith Rowe. Arsenal dominated the first half and it felt like going in at one goal up was no reflection of how much they were in control. 

Saka’s goal after half an hour came after a free kick he took on the right wing ended with the ball falling to him on the edge of the area and his former colleague Martinez was unsighted to prevent the shot going in. There were plenty of other chances, but these were spurned. Villa were unable to find a solution to Arsenal’s pressing game, and credit to the players for carrying out that after a testing 90 minutes against Liverpool. Nothing wrong with the fitness levels. 

The only real concern felt like the possibility of a second yellow card as the Arsenal cautions totted up. This wasn’t helped by what seemed like inconsistency in the refereeing of Andy Madley, who was more reluctant to dish out bookings to the home side. 

After the interval things started well and it was more of the same in terms of the pattern of play. Arsenal had chances to kill the game off, but bad decision making by Saka and later Lacazette on whether to release the ball meant excellent opportunities to score were passed up. 

It gave Villa a lifeline, although the closest they came was a deflected Olly Watkins shot onto the post, which Leno might have reached anyway. Defensively, Arsenal did as much as could be asked of them. Partey and Xhaka both played well, and the defensive line had as solid a performance as you could ask for. There seemed to be no lack of confidence in Leno and it was encouraging to see the team spirit at the conclusion of the game, when the keeper received plenty of praise from his team-mates, playing his first league match since the 5-0 horrorshow at the Etihad in the third match of the season. The keeper pulled off a save from Coutinho in the final moment of the game after Pepe had given away a daft free kick. Defensively, the club’s record signing is a liability, but fortunately it didn’t cost two points yesterday.

It was understandable that Arsenal’s level of intensity – in terms of pressing Villa and being able to control the game – dropped off in the last half an hour. But critically, even if it meant greater pressure, they dealt with it comfortably enough with solid defensive work. Dare I say they are becoming a difficult side to beat?

One attacking player Arsenal were interested in last summer was the Argentinian Emiliano Buendia, who moved from Norwich to Villa. He’s scored two goals so far this season, and plays in a similar style to Coutinho (or for that matter, Emile Smith Rowe). Going on yesterday’s performance, you get the feeling Arsenal might have dodged a bullet there. The funds look far better spent securing Odegaard from Real Madrid. 

So not the most thrilling of encounters, but a solid display, and five consecutive away wins equal 15 very valuable points. Yes, three of the wins have come against relegation contenders in Leeds, Norwich and Watford, but these are exactly the kind of matches that need to be won. The others, against Wolves and Villa, were more difficult asks, but two 1-0 victories there (with 10 men for the last quarter of the Wolves match, let us remember) point to an ability to eke out results where the degree of difficulty is – if you believe the table – greater. 

It might have been only a one goal win yesterday, but for the most part, Arsenal looked comfortable. The table looks healthy and with ten games left, it is very much in the Gunners’ hands to ensure next season sees the return of Champions League football for the first time since 2016-17. There is even some margin for error, but if they win the matches they should, going by current form – Palace, Brighton, Southampton, Leeds, Newcastle and Everton, they will have accumulated 72 points. The last three seasons, the fourth placed club achieved between 66 and 71 points, and as the division becomes more and more competitive, I don’t foresee a sudden change. And playing at their best, Arsenal can expect to pick up something from matches at home to Manchester United, and the trickier aways at Chelsea, West Ham and Spurs. The key thing though is the ability to bounce back when points are dropped, as they inevitably will be. They managed this at Villa Park – there was no hangover from Wednesday night, perhaps helped by the knowledge they had put in a very good performance against Liverpool, and that the margin between them and the title contending sides is narrowing.

Let us hope for no more injuries or suspensions, and it is good to go into the international break on a high. 

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