Mikel Arteta says Arsenal produced their “best game” against Villa since he took over as manager five years ago but their dominant performance wasn’t enough to take all three points as the visitors fought back from two goals down.
Arsenal controlled the game for the first hour, with Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz capitalising on Leandro Trossard’s fine work. However, Villa stunned the home crowd with quick-fire goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins, setting up a tense finale.
Arsenal thought they’d won the game in the closing stages when Mikel Merino’s effort deflected into the net off Kai Havertz but after the celebrations had died down, VAR ruled it out for a handball by the German.
Other chances came and went as profligacy again put a dent in the Gunners’ title chances. Indeed, having earlier watched Liverpool snatch a late win at Brentford, Arne Slot’s men are very much in the ascendency.
After the game, Arteta told Sky Sports: “Pride [at] the way the boys played and competed, the third time in six days. To deliver that dominance, that performance, they were outstanding. We deserved much more, that’s clear.
On the goals conceded, both of which came from crosses into the box, the Spaniard said: “The way we defended, especially the second goal, can’t be part of our game.
“Overall the word is pride because they were exceptional. The way they tried [was impressive]. There were players that were dead and performed like this for 97 minutes. They don’t look for excuses or to the bench looking what to do.
“It was the best game we played against Villa since I’ve been here. They’re a good side. In attack and defending, the level we’re playing is so, so, so high because we’ve played some big teams and we were so good, but there’s something missing. The line is so thin and we have to find it.
“Today, the way we concede the goals it cannot be part of our game if you want to be up there. Today we cannot concede the two goals that we’ve done after doing everything that you’ve done with that discipline, that commitment with that resilience, that quality, that line is so thin, against them especially. We have been punished before with that and you cannot do it.”
Asked about the decision to rule out the goal that went in off Havertz, he added: “The decision is made. It’s difficult because we have so much emotion, the celebration and it’s taken away from you. Not easy.”
We switched off twice and it cost us. Dubious handball and Trossard probably should have scored. Should have won the match, but the reality is some of their subs would be starting for us. We need to sign a forward/striker for big money now, nevermind waiting until the summer. Get him now.
Disagree. Wait for summer, get the right player, fill out the squad, and win everything!
I agree with COYG. There is no point breaking the bank now and scuttling the long term plan we have for the club. The league seems gone if we are honest with ourselves. There is no point in compounding it by spending recklessly. What’s to say whoever we break the bank for and buy will not need time to settle and gel with the team. And by then, the season is over. If we don’t win this season, let’s build better for next season. No reckless spending please. I have faith that Arteta and his boys will bring glory to… Read more »
What is your timeline for bringing glory? Next season, 2 years, 5 years?
The one argument I’d have was brought up on one of the recent podcasts (all a blur lately with so many games and shows) where someone spoke to the benefit of letting a new player use the second half of this season as a bedding in period so that they can truly hit the ground running come August.
That said, it obviously still has to be a player Arteta wants and would want anyway, and that seems hard to come by right now, unfortunately.
Like last season?
Just like last summer…
That’s a good point but we have seen that it doesn’t matter if it’s the Summer window not.
If we wait (again) then we are giving up on not only the league but the Champions League and it’s only January!
No point in throwing a lot of money for a dud like Vlahovic, rather wait and get someone worthwhile. I don’t see us getting a marquee signing this window, but hopefully there’s a good attacking player out there that would help.
Vlahovic is a dud, and I’m glad someone else is saying it. We lived thru chamakh once.
totally agree. patience is key. I know that is a meme now especially for us but we should know better that we live in imperfect world when luck plays a major part and we’re building and improving maybe slower than one should want but still we’re climbing that mountain and we WILL climb it – check us out in CL this season tho – I have a feeling we’ll surprise many people
Trossard was offside anyway and sadly the handball was the right call. Wish it weren’t.
Debatable offside but we’ll never know. He was our most potent threat today though.
I’m quite certain it would’ve been offside after looking at the still on the replay. And I’ll agree with Peter Drury, who said it was probably for the best (for fans) that Trossard missed there. I don’t know if we could’ve survived yet another winner being wiped away!
But yeah, it’s great that Trossard has found his groove again. When he plays like this he’s a real difference-maker.
Is an arm really offside? I wasn’t aware you could score with your arm.
Kiwior is not good enough to play at CB, forcing us to play TP at RB. Why is Kiwior playing for us then? Sell him and get someone who is able to cover Saliba and Gabriel when they are injured. Why are we always in these stupid situations?
he’s not a right-sided CB and I think Arteta places a bit too much emphasis on that part – he’d rather play Kiwior at LB than RCB strangely, even though Kiwi clearly lacks many of the qualities you need to be a good full back and was much more impressive at RCB filling in for Saliba (back when Arteta realised he couldn’t play Rob Holding there anymore two seasons ago and literally had no other option) than any time he was covering at LB. We did get someone better to cover Gabriel and be our first choice left back, unfortunately… Read more »
Optimize for a Champions League run?
Might as well sing kumbaya with the team in the locker room with all that pride.
We lost a 2 goal lead at home while we are chasing top spot Arteta!
It’s like listening to a scratched record – always proud, always bemoaning injuries, decisions, bad luck, poor finishing blah blah blah.
I really do miss the Wenger years – fantastic football and success with it and with a touch of class – now it’s Mourinho without the success.
We’ve been missing a wide forward player for the right side for three windows. If I can see it, surely someone who’s paid to notice should have done something about it in those 18 months. Oh yeah, he went to forest.
But if you want a left sided defender then Arsenal can help
Yeah but zubimendi is now the priority. 🤦♀️
Arteta made poor signings last summer and his project to work with a false 9 has failed miserably but is too stubborn to admit it. He built a good team but Rice was the only quality addition.Thw change to purely possession football is just boring the arse of people. Slow and Boring boring Arsenal
I hope that MA deep down has acknowledged that
last summer window he failed to improve on the team
Yes there is Mikel can l tell you what it is an Effing STRIKER, someone who can finish games on his own, Oh and deasent cover foe William Saliba because every time he’s missing we never seam to win.