What Mikel Arteta realized as Arsenal throw away victory as title race takes large swing
Mikel Arteta could only watch on as Arsenal went through every emotion in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa after leading 2-0 before the hour mark
Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal throw away two points after Aston Villa came from behind to draw at the Emirates.
Arsenal hosted Aston Villa in a fixture that has caused some scars for players and fans alike. Two defeats last season ultimately meant they missed out on the title to Manchester City.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead through Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz and looking set to bury the ghost, Arsenal were frustrated again by their former manager Unai Emery as two quick goals shortly after Havertz appeared to have put Arsenal on their way to three points levelled the score.
Arsenal thought they’d won the game late on but a VAR check chalked off the goal for a handball against Havertz. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at what Arteta would have learned on a rollercoaster evening.
Emery rivalry
Despite the points being split, Arteta will certainly be the more annoyed as Emery got the better of him again. The result means that Arteta still only has one win against Emery since succeeding him as Arsenal boss in December 2019.
His solitary win against his fellow countryman came in August but there have now been two draws and three wins in Emery’s favour.
Sign a striker
While Havertz got on the scoresheet, missed chances late on proved to be Arsenal’s failing again. Leandro Trossard missed a golden chance to win all three points late on as more points slipped through their fingers.
With only Raheem Sterling called off the bench, Arteta needs to add more firepower before January is over or their title dream will evaporate very quickly.
Partey at right-back
While he’s played the role before, choosing Partey at right-back cannot be a decision Arteta makes when he has available options.
The injury to William Saliba meant the defensive pack had to be shuffled, but Partey was not up to it. Villa’s first goal came from down his side and the second saw him leave Ollie Watkins in acres of space at the far post. Arteta got that call very wrong.
Defensive vulnerability
Arsenal have been one of the best defensive sides in the league over the last 18 months but injuries have seen them suffer.
Missing Saliba today, Jurrien Timber was chosen to partner Gabriel despite Jakub Kiwior being an available option. Although the Pole has certainly had his troubles, the decision to drop Thomas Partey to right-back likely couldn’t have fared worse.
Arsenal now look like a team you can get at, and Villa certainly did, finding it easy to create chances throughout against a shaky backline.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
The 18-year-old started at left-back for the fifth time in the last seven league games, deservedly holding his place after the North London derby win in midweek.
Youngsters are always told to grab opportunities in the team when they arise with key first-teamers missing and Lewis-Skelly has done exactly that in the absence of Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The England U19 international was impressive again up against another one of this season’s young stars Morgan Rogers. Despite a lapse that almost cost Arsenal as Tielemans struck the post following his poor clearance. The future looks bright.
