- John McGinn departure today we find another challenge…..
- 7′: John McGinn fires Aston Villa into an early lead, finishing from close range after Leon Bailey’s run.
- 47′: VAR reviews a possible foul by Luiz on Jesus in the Villa box but declines to intervene.
- 90′: Havertz appeared to have bundled home an equaliser for Arsenal, but VAR rules the goal out for handball.
Arteta refuses to share ‘big opinion’ on officiating calls
Speaking after Arsenal’s loss, Mikel Arteta insisted he has a “big opinion” on the officiating decisions from this match but made clear that he would not share them publicly.
His side saw Kai Havertz’s late equaliser ruled out following a handball while they were also denied a penalty following a Douglas Luiz challenge on Gabriel Jesus inside the area early in the second half.
Both incidents were decided by the on-field officials but were each examined by VAR, who recommended that neither decision needed to be overturned.
“I prefer not to comment,” Arteta told Sky Sports after the match when asked about the Havertz incident.
Arteta was then asked about the challenge by Aston Villa’s Luiz on Jesus, to which he responded: ”I think that is even clearer.”
It was suggested to Arteta that he did have an opinion on the incidents but preferred not to say, to which he
Loose touches, predictable placement of shots and a general sloppiness on the ball held Arsenal back.
It took them a while to figure out the best plan of attack but then realised getting runners in behind was the answer. Before that, their best chances came after turning the ball over high upfield. In those situations, they were able to break into their attacking third but often took too long to make a decision on the final action, which helped Villa’s defence.
The timing of the runs in behind was just off too often as Emery’s risk-versus-reward approach fared just better than his Arsenal successor Arteta’s.
That was more down to the execution of the plan rather than the plan itself.
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Can Arsenal take any positives from this defeat?
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Not many positives, especially considering Liverpool’s lunchtime win at Crystal Palace to go top, but it was not an overly worrying performance.
The biggest concern was the players’ collective shortcomings once they got into good areas rather than not managing to get into them. That may come from the amount of football the majority of Arsenal’s starters have played since the start of the season in August.
With qualification for the Champions League knockout stages already confirmed, giving some of this group a rest away to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in Tuesday’s group finale may be ideal.
Arsenal also face Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend, before Liverpool away the following Saturday, so finding some freshness ahead of that trip to Anfield should be imperative.
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What could Arsenal have done better on Villa’s winner?
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Oleksandr Zinchenko, returning at left-back ahead of Jakub Kiwior, had several knock-on effects for McGinn’s goal.
Firstly, him following the ball inside gave Bailey space in behind. Once the Villa winger broke into the box, Declan Rice pushed across from his central position to help Gabriel Magalhaes, which left McGinn with more space to turn and finish.
If Rice had not felt the need to overcompensate and pull wide, McGinn may not have had that much room. That space in Arsenal’s left channel has been a theme since Zinchenko signed before last season and Gabriel usually handles it well, but this Villa side are a different proposition.
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Emery: ‘Impact of the subs was really important’
Unai Emery spoke about his line-up decision after the match: “I was watching some players. Maybe it was a long 90 minutes for them. One example was Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans, who were asking me to sub them. The impact of the subs was really important.
“I was thinking about changing the starting 11, but yesterday we were speaking to the doctors and the physios and every player said they were perfect to play.
“But I needed to be clinical in my decisions to change players.”
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Jesus: ‘Maybe we can have some better decisions’
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Gabriel Jesus spoke to Premier League Productions after Arsenal’s defeat: “Well I feel we played better than last game. I think we controlled the game. I think we conceded the goal early and then the game maybe goes another way.
“We played good. They have a good team, good players, play amazing, you can see it. I think we could win game but now we focus on next game.”
On his appeal for a penalty early in the second half: “I felt touch but I don’t know the rules so probably for them it’s no penalty. I can’t do nothing. I felt someone touch me and anyway it’s their decision.”
On Kai Havertz’s late disallowed goal: “I don’t know if the goal is clear handball. We don’t know, we just have to accept it and focus to go again next game and then maybe we can have some better decisions.”
On whether Aston Villa are title rivals: “Of course, it’s the Premier League. It’s an amazing competition, so strong. Anyone can beat you no matter how strong your team is.
“They’re having an amazing season, good coach, good team, stadium, the way the crowd comes to support you. That’s football, they are there, they have confidence and they are playing good. We have to focus on us, that’s it.”
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‘Never thought I’d see a day like this for Villa’
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Meanwhile, the Aston Villa fans on our discussion page didn’t care about the referee’s decisions, they were too busy celebrating!
Luke P: Against City we displayed unreal football and chemistry, today we displayed grit and determination – Arsenal played well and we were tired but we held on
Josh L: A massive win. Club was tired, coming off a big emotional win and they found a way through. Martinez really brought his A game, he was the wall we needed. McGinn is such a player, so tough to dispossess. Lovely goal. Fortress Villa cannot be breached!
David G: I never thought I’d see a day like this for Villa. Just resigned myself to think we will always be mid table. Let’s enjoy this ride!
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Arsenal fans wanted Havertz goal to stand
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Arsenal supporters on our discussion page were unsurprisingly not impressed by the referee’s decisions today.
F S: Handball rule is nuts. Hits both hands. Goal or penalty
Dávid: It seemed like they only reviewed Havertz’s handball, but what about Cash’s handball?
Conor Q: I am sick of playing 12 v 11
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Physical match
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There were 63 total tackles in this match, 32 by Aston Villa and 31 by Arsenal.
That total ranks as the most of any Premier League game this season. It’s also the first game to see both sides make at least 30 tackles since 2015.
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McGinn doesn’t want to talk title challenge
Sky Sports also asked McGinn whether Aston Villa are contenders for the title: “I’m banning the T-word! It’s game-week 16 so there’s a long, long way to go. We respect everyone around us who have been in these positions for years. They’re so experienced in it, we’re newbies. Can we keep it up? Hopefully.”
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McGinn: ‘Today was a little bit of revenge’
More from Aston Villa captain and goalscorer John McGinn’s conversation with Sky Sports after the game: “From the pre-match team talk, the manager made us aware the last team to beat us here was Arsenal. That game stung us and stung him personally. Today was a little bit of revenge.
“We’re really playing well at home. Long may it continue. If we keep our home form hopefully we can achieve something that will eclipse last season.”
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Emery thriving at Villa after struggling at Arsenal
Unai Emery has now taken 26 wins from his first 41 Premier League matches in changes of Aston Villa (D6 L9).
That’s more victories than he managed in 51 total PL games when he managed Arsenal (W25 D13 L13).
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Emery won’t speak about a title challenge yet
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Unai Emery also spoke to Sky Sports after the win: “Happy, I’m very happy. It was a tough match and we were tired, but we started the game well. They were imposing their position on the pitch, but our goalkeeper was amazing.
“We tried to defend and keep possession longer than we did. We competed and it was a fantastic three points in a tough week. We have to be happy but also keep balance.”
On winning 15 straight home Premier league matches: “I’ve never achieved this and I won’t again in my future as a coach. But we have to try to understand we are competing well and the next challenge will be Sheffield United and another tough match.”
On Villa’s title chances: “I will speak again when we are in game 30-32 and if we are in the same position as now then maybe I can speak about it.
“At the start we are not a contender, it is only game 16. We are in (the top four) and must try to keep it. It is difficult, we are not dominating matches like we are here.”
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Odegaard: ‘We didn’t deserve to lose’
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Martin Odegaard joined his manager in speaking to Sky Sports after Arsenal’s defeat: “In front of the goal we had enough chances to win the game. I felt they didn’t create anything apart from the goal. It happens sometimes.
“I had a few chances myself but the only thing you can do is keep going and bounce back in the next game. That’s what we will do.
“We gave them an easy goal but after that we controlled it and should have scored. We didn’t deserve to lose but that’s football.”
On Kai Havertz’s late goal ruled out for handball: “I thought it was a goal but I haven’t seen it so don’t want to say too much.”
On the impact of this defeat on the title race: “It’s too early in the season. It’s a big game and we wanted three points. Villa are a great team and credit to them, they are well organised and good on the ball. But we were the better team.”
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Arteta: ‘We generated some big, big chances’
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Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Mikel Arteta praised his side’s performance despite the result: “Really good performance. I thought we were better team and didn’t deserve to lose the game at all but this is football.”
On Arsenal’s failure to score: “Because you have to put the ball in the net and that’s the only thing we missed today. We generated some big, big chances, bringing the ball higher up. We still lost the game.”
On Aston Villa: “They are a really good side. They are in a really good moment right now and I congratulate them. That’s what we have to do.”
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Arteta: ‘We were the better team’
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A defiant Mikel Arteta spoke to the media after watching his team’s defeat from the stands: “We were the better team. I haven’t seen a team do what we did to Villa here today since February.”
When asked about Gabriel Jesus’ penalty shout and the handball that ruled out Kai Havertz’s goal at the end, he just repeats “clear and obvious”.
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Arsenal failed to take their chances
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Today’s defeat marks only the second time that Arsenal have been shut out this season across 24 matches in all competitions. The other shutout came in November’s 1-0 loss away to Newcastle.
Mikel Arteta can at least take some solace in knowing that his side did create chances today. They registered 12 shots, five of which were on target, created nine chances and tallied an expected goals figure of 1.36.
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Can Aston Villa win the title?
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With 35 points after 16 games, this is now the fifth time Aston Villa have earned at least that many at this stage of a top-flight season. The previous four times they did so, things turned out pretty well:
- 1898-99 – Champions
- 1899-00 – Champions
- 1910-11 – Second place
- 1980-81 – Champions
(Adjusting historic wins to three points)
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McGinn explains how he scored his goal
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McGinn also spoke to Sky Sports about his goal against Arsenal: “I actually had an exact same chance in one of the Europa Conference League games. Leon has cut it across the exact same, I’ve tried to lay it off on my right foot.
“We’ve got a lot of staff behind the scenes who analyse that stuff and say if that happens again turn on your right and shoot with your left. Just in that split second I managed to do that.
“I didn’t get the cleanest of strikes but it managed to go in the corner and I’m just delighted.”
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McGinn: ‘A monumental week’ for Villa
Aston Villa captain and goalscorer John McGinn spoke to Sky Sports after the win: “That was actually a really tough spell for us. We played Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday and I think it showed in our performance tonight. It wasn’t our best but I’m certainly not complaining.
“The second half was a bit of character, a bit of grit and fair play to the substitutes who’ve come on. A couple of them haven’t played for a long time who dug right in there.
“Arsenal have made a habit of scoring late goals and it was up to us to keep concentrated. What a monumental week it has been for us.
“We had the best of the first 20 minutes up until we scored. I don’t know what happened after that but Arsenal seemed to get a foot in the game, controlled it a lot more and they’re a top-quality team so their manager adjusted a few things. Did it work? Maybe, maybe not. They had a lot of the ball but not too many clear-cut chances.
“Credit to us for not playing as well as we did on Wednesday night but clean sheets against the two best teams in the league in my opinion and another huge win.”
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Villa have shocked the Premier League
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Aston Villa were “struggling” to keep clean sheets before this week. They’ve now just beaten Manchester City and Arsenal 1-0 with two different types of performances.
An astonishing four days and just a small window into why Villa’s turnaround over the past year has been as remarkable.
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History makers
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Aston Villa have become the fourth team to play the previous season’s top two in consecutive Premier League matches and win them both, joining Liverpool (2000), Southampton (2001) and Manchester United (2002).
Villa have also won their 15th consecutive home league match, breaking a club record that was set in 1903 and matched in 1931.
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McGinn has his moment
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Apt that John McGinn has his own moment with The Holte End. He’s the captain and has been the driver behind this historic home winning streak.
Players are limping down the tunnel, hugging – they left nothing out there.
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VAR check for possible red card
88′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Carlos barges Saka to the ground as Arsenal were looking to counter and receives a booking for his trouble.
VAR takes a look to potentially upgrade the foul to a red card, but decline to do so.
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Villa’s subs have changed the game
87′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Villa’s subs have largely been fantastic since coming on. Cash is playing like a man who wants his place in the team back. Moreno and Ramsey are sticking to the task, too.
Arsenal dominated the opening stages of the second half, but Villa have taken the sting out of the game since.
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Trossard on for Martinelli
70′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Jesus has a great opportunity to get a free shot off in the middle of the Villa box but makes a mess of his first touch.
Arsenal make their first change, bringing on Leandro Trossard for Gabriel Martinelli.
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Emery trying to protect Villa’s lead
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68′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
With his latest two subs, Emery accepts the pattern of the game and is now trying to protect Villa’s lead. This is untypically early for Dendoncker to come on – big task to protect the back four and feed the ball to Villa’s front players. Cash has a similarly difficult job against Martinelli.
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Martinez nearly gifts Arsenal an equaliser
57′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal send a corner into the near post. Watkins jumps in front of Martinez, forcing the keeper to flap at the ball. It bounces off the post and into the arms of a grateful goalkeeper.
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Second change for Villa
56′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Villa have got a real issue with Martinelli and that side. No real width when they’ve got the ball either, now that Bailey has gone off. Konsa has got huge responsibility defensively.
Jacob Ramsey comes on to replace Youri Tielemans. Emery is screaming to keep the ball (like he bemoaned after the last Arsenal home game) and needs more ball-carriers as Villa are largely playing on the break.
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McGinn & Bailey are on fire
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HT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
John McGinn has now scored four goals in the Premier League this season, marking a new career high in the competition.
With his assist on McGinn’s goal, Leon Bailey has now scored or assisted in each of his past seven Premier League games at Villa Park (4 goals, 4 assists), despite only starting three of those games.
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Villa’s defence has been under pressure
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HT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Villa are the only side not to have dropped a point from a winning position this season and will need all their resolve in the second half.
Tielemans and McGinn have been very good but the back four has come under a lot of pressure and relied on Martinez. Emery has been asking for calm and needs more.
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Odegaard comes close
33′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Better play from Arsenal on the right between White and Saka. He finds Odegaard on the half-turn but his shot is dragged wide of the near post.
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Jesus causing problems for Villa
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33′ Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Jesus is causing lots of problems for Villa’s shape. He’s coming so deep (unlike Haaland on Wednesday) that Carlos is forced to track him.
That means there is space behind and the two full-backs are isolated against Saka and Martinelli. Villa playing on transition, but need to find Watkins and Bailey runs.
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Emi Martinez faces former club
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David Raya keeping his place in Arsenal’s starting line-up isn’t the only goalkeeping story today.
This match also features Emi Martinez facing his former team. The Argentine spent nearly a decade as an Arsenal player, though went on several loans during that time. His greatest moment in north London came in winning the 2020 FA Cup final.
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Aston Villa’s approach
I expect Aston Villa to deploy a similar set-up to how they faced Manchester City – trying to lock on in midfield, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn getting behind Arsenal’s No 8s.
But… the match-up between Leon Bailey and Oleksandr Zinchenko potentially looks like a very promising route.
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Raya keeps his starting place
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Mikel Arteta has surprised some prognosticators by sticking with David Raya in net after the goalkeeper’s rough outing against Luton Town on Tuesday, when he was at fault for two goals.
When Raya was brought into the club, the Arsenal manager spoke about rotating between him and Aaron Ramsdale. As this season has gone on, it has become increasingly clear that Raya is simply the No 1 choice and it will take something extraordinary to dislodge him from that position.
It’s a big call by Arteta, who must be expecting a big reaction from Raya today.
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What is Arteta allowed to do today during his suspension?
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After picking up his third booking of the season during Arsenal’s wild celebrations at Luton Town on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta will be sat in the director’s box for today’s game.
FA guidance on touchline suspensions for managers states: “The individual cannot position themselves in or behind the area of the dugout, or any barrier adjacent to the touchline or goal line.”
Arteta will be able to give a pre-match team talk as usual, can be in the dressing room at half-time, and can discretely pass on information for his assistants to relay during the game. But direct communication is forbidden.
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