Arsenal star caught out but Mikel Arteta defends players after Premier League title twist

The reaction to Arsenal's defeat at Aston Villa has been raw but the broader context reveals the reality is far from the nightmare it has presented itself as

A truly gutting moment for Arsenal and perhaps a defining one for the season. Had the Gunners managed to claim a win at Aston Villa, it would rightfully have been hailed as one of the results of the season.

Certainly I was discussing pre-match that it would have been the most impressive with all the context that surrounded it. But it was not to be.

Lady luck does not seem to be on the Gunners’ side of late, and it is typical that in the moment where they must face the teams sitting third in the table at the time of the game, both Chelsea and Aston Villa faced an Arsenal team without William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.

After the game, I put it to Arteta whether the absence of the pair - and that this was his sixth different back four he’d selected this season - whether that in any way changed the expectations surrounding the game. He, however, was making no excuses for the result.

“We know that, and the team has to be able to adapt to that. Don't look for excuses. Obviously, we know what those two bring, especially in games like this.

“But the other two, I think they were exceptional as well today. So, that's it.”

Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie had to do a very difficult job at a ground which has already taken points from some of the league’s best. However, mistakes crept into the player’s performance, mistakes which perhaps the likes of Saliba or Gabriel don’t make.

Even right to the end, Hincapie was taking the ball to the touchline instead of booting it upfield only to concede a throw-in, which would eventually lead to the winning goal. It went down as the first time the Gunners had lost on expected goals (xG) too, since the win over Manchester United at the start of the season (2.51 > 1.98)

Although it is worth also pointing out that Ollie Watkins’ chance in the first half accounted for an xG value of more than 0.5. Which, had it been scored, would have likely been ruled out by VAR for a foul on Riccardo Calafiori.

What it tells us is this was a very even game, and the winner at the end perhaps flatters the home side. Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all had great chances which failed to test Emi Martinez.

Viktor Gyokeres was caught sleeping when Declan Rice played a late ball across the box. While Martin Odegaard saw two long range strikes go close and Mikel Merino could have laid in Saka in the first half for a one-on-one.

It was a tight game and became the fifth one of its type. Against Liverpool, Manchester City, Sunderland and Chelsea, Arsenal could easily have been on the winning side in any of those games, and in some, arguably, certainly should have been.

Arteta made a very poignant statement after the match that his players need to listen to. Despite putting in so much at Chelsea and now Villa, not coming out with a victory, it is not all for nothing; it is for something, and that might just be what takes them to the title.

“Yeah, well, I mean, everything that they have put in the last two weeks and the results that we got, the performances, and to lose it that way emotionally is very touching,” he said. “You just feel that, yeah, everything that you put in, it hasn't been worth it.

“But it is worth it, because we will learn again from today, and it will make us a better team again.”

Wolves at home is the next league game, following a trip to Belgium in the UEFA Champions League, before they then face their next domestic away day at Everton. Two games where Arsenal can regain some energy, rotate and, most importantly, build confidence back.

The hope is that William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus might also rejoin the group to allow some respite. Calafiori will be suspended for the next league game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

The gap is now just two at the top, but the fact is the Gunners have cleared the vast majority of truly formidable away trips before Christmas. Only the Etihad Stadium remains, whereas their rivals must now make the same travels as the title race is well and truly on.