ARSENAL came crashing back to Earth as they were hammered by Aston Villa following a brilliant display at Old Trafford.
A Bukayo Saka own goal and an Ollie Watkins double have put the Villans 3-0 up in a match which has also seen Thomas Partey go off injured.
THAT’S A WRAP
What a way to cap off Remembrance Sunday! Plenty of goals, just the way we want it.
Time to get some much needed rest.
Have a good one!
GOODNIGHT!
ARTETA SPEAKS
Arteta spoke after his sides disappointing loss: “First of all, congratulations to Aston Villa for the way they played and the victory and after that obviously, we performed below out standards.
“And I have to say that since I am the Arsenal manager, this is the first time I’ve seen us play and we weren’t a team.
“I take full responsibility, we didn’t start the game well enough, we got away with a decision, VAR, because of the offside situation.
“But straight after that, we lost all the races, all the duels, we were sloppy on the ball.
“And when we created the chances to score, we didn’t even hit the target.”
TABLE CHECK
Arsenal drop to 11th, Villa move up to 6th and they’re three points off the top spot WITH a game in hand!
OZIL TWITTER REACTION
Mesut Ozil can only watch on from the sofa, but the fans clearly want him back in the squad.
Take a look at some of his likes on twitter.
SUBS RATING
Ceballos (on 45) – 3
Cleared it off the line in the second half but contributed little else.
Nketiah (on 63) – 4
Barely got into the game and didn’t even manage to test Martinez in the Villa goal.
Pepe (on 63) – 5
Unlucky with an excellent curling effort five minutes after coming on.
MIDFIELDERS & ATTACKERS
Thomas Partey (off 45) – 6
Showed glimpses of quality with his range of passing, particularly spreading it to team-mate Aubameyang on the left. Let down by a lack of options in midfield especially with a lack of No10 playing ahead of him. Cool and calm in possession but came off injured at half-time.
Mohamed Elneny – 4
Lots of energy in midfield but positionally was caught out and was closely marked by Ross Barkley. Struggled when Partey went off at half-time having to cover so much ground to himself.
Bukayo Saka – 2
Looked lost in the first half capped by an own goal having been caught on his heels. He fell asleep allowing Trezeguet to beat him to the ball and stuck his foot out in an act of desperation.
More lively in the opening part of the second period but his head dropped when the second went in.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 2
Another disappointing showing out on the left side – he didn’t even register a shot all contest.
Every time he had the ball at his feet he was on the touchline and not making a nuisance of himself in the box.
Little surprise that he still hasn’t scored at home this season. Arteta must find a way to get him scoring again.
Willian (off 63) – 3
Anonymous in the first period, offering little going forward. Had a chance early in the second but dragged it way wide, summing up his evening.
Hooked off midway through second period and will be fighting to keep his place in their next outing.
Alexandre Lacazette (off 63) – 4
Missed a glorious chance with his head to bring Arsenal level on 40 minutes. Could have proved crucial heading into the second period with the scorelines level.
Felt sorry for him for large periods as he had little service from the wide men.
ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS
Bernd Leno – 5
Had little chance with Villa’s three goals but made a decent stop to deny Trezeguet early in the second half.
He made another terrific save to deny Grealish but was let down by his defenders tonight.
Hector Bellerin – 2
Had a torrid time marking Grealish – the England star will give him nightmares for weeks.
The overlap by Matt Targett caused him issues throughout with Villa doubling up on the left.
Looked good going forward in the first half but appeared exhausted in the second and Villa milked it for all it’s worth.
Rob Holding – 2
Struggled to deal with the psychicality of Ollie Watkins in attack.
Most attacks came down his side with Grealish and Barkley’s interchange causing him problems.
Was identified as a weakness and Villa exploited it perfectly.
Gabriel – 3
Really poor in possession, giving the ball away needlessly on a few occasions. Heart in mouth moment when knocking it back to his keeper.
Wasn’t close enough to Watkins for Villa’s third.
Enjoyed a decent start to his Arsenal career but not one of his finer games.
Kieran Tierney – 5
Delivered a number of excellent crosses and should have had an assist if it wasn’t for Lacazette’s poor header.
Defensively sound with most of Villa’s attacks coming down the left.
MISSING MAN
Might have to file a missing person’s report for someone of the name Alexander Lacazette.
GOAT
AGREED.
CONCEDING DEFEAT
It appears Piers Morgan mocks his old friend President Donald Trump!
GOAL SCORER
Ollie Watkins has scored six goals in seven games for Aston Villa in the Premier League this season – only Dean Saunders (7) and Dion Dublin (9) have ever netted more in their first seven appearances for Villa in the competition.
Credit: Getty Images
FULL-TIME STATS
Take a look at this.
The touch map of Aubameyang, Lacazette AND Willian (left), compared to Villa’s attacking players (right).
Arteta will be FURIOUS.
FT: ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
Watkins strikes twice to sink the club he supports!
Villa walk away with three massive points, a real statement of intent, a display of real strength from Dean Smith’s men.
Arsenal didn’t really pose a threat on Martinez’s goal, Villa outworked them over every blade of grass.
Gareth, PLAY GREALISH, PLEASE!
PEEEEEP!!
THAT’S THE FINAL WHISTLE!!
VILLA HAVE DONE IT, WHAT A WIN!!
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
90. Back to the drawing board for Arsenal, they’re limping over the final whistle – they’ve been given a good hiding.
Three additional minutes at the end of the second half.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
88. Pepe goes down just outside the penalty area and he wins his side a free-kick.
It’s in a very promising position, with Willian off the pitch, I suspect Pepe will step up and take it upon himself.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
87. Grealish wins another foul, this time off Bellerin.
the break in play allows Villa to make a change, El Ghazi is on replacing Trezeguet.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
85. Grealish makes it look so easy, he’s not blessed with pace compared to the likes of Sterling.
It’s the decision making in the final third which puts him above the rest, his ability to ride challenges and keep the ball so close to him is second to none.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
83. Gareth, I hope you’re watching?
If you don’t start Grealish……
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
82. Targett does well to get his body in the way of the ball by his own corner flag, he invites the challenge from Bellerin and he wins his side a free-kick.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
81. Tierney tries to feed the ball straight into the feet of Aubameyang but his first touch lets him down.
It’s been a difficult night for the Arsenal captain.
LOYALTY’S DEAD
Arsenal fan no more! Watkins is at the double against the club he’s grown up supporting.
Arteta looks out of ideas.
Credit: Getty Images
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
77. Barkley glides inside of Bellerin, he drives towards goal and sends a shot crashing off Holding and behind for another Villa corner.
Fabulous play from Villa, they’re in the hunt for a fourth!
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
76. Arsenal look out of ideas, they’re pushing men forward but when it comes to the final ball they’re clueless.
ARSENAL 0-3 ASTON VILLA
74. Martinez sets Grealish off running down the left-hand side.
He gets to the edge of the penalty area and feeds Watkins in on goal, he gets his head up and slots the ball through the legs of Leno!
Unbelievable. Villa are playing Arsenal off the park at the Emirates!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
