Having seen their team finish as the runners-up in each of their last three Premier League seasons, Arsenal fans have every right to be living on the edge each and every time Mikel Arteta’s side suffers a defeat, and that would certainly have been the case after the Gunners went down to Aston Villa in the closing seconds of what was a thrilling encounter.
Arsenal had been on an astounding run of form prior to their visit to Villa Park, the North London side having gone 18 games unbeaten in all competitions, but the trip to the Midlands was always going to be a testing one, not least because Unai Emery’s side are also in a rich vein of form.
However, there is no need for Arsenal supporters, or indeed baying pundits, to hit the panic button just yet. After a superb start to the Premier League campaign, Arteta’s side still sit top of the tree ahead of Christmas and have a run of games coming up that, on paper, should not be as tricky as their game against a resurgent Villa.
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Those three campaigns that ended up seeing Arsenal fall by the wayside were painful to say the least, albeit last season they didn’t come close to unseating Liverpool, and Arteta has invested well over the summer to help build a squad that is better equipped to deal with injuries, which is not something they could have boasted over recent seasons.
The fact that Arsenal have started the season so well despite losing the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka for spells says it all. In some departments, Arteta is truly spoilt for choice, and Arteta won’t want his team dwelling on the manner of their loss to Villa to live long in their collective memories, and his post-match comments illustrate that.
When asked about his feelings following the defeat, which was sealed when Emi Buendia scored Villa’s second deep into injury time, Arteta responded.
“Very painful, especially after all the effort in the match. It was an open game. Congratulations to Aston Villa, they are a really good side. We conceded a big chance in the first half with Matty Cash’s goal. We had some dominance in the second half.”
“I had the feeling we were going to win the game, so to lose it in the manner we did is painful. Eighteen games unbeaten, you lose a game, and that’s what it is – this is football. It is what it is.”
“We had a big chance when Declan [Rice] put the ball across for Noni [Madueke], they then won a throw-in at the other end and got the goal. That’s football and the quality of this league.”
“The level of consistency the boys have shown in this period is incredible, so I only have thoughts to think we can do it again.” Arteta added.
Next up for Arsenal is a midweek trip to Belgium to face a struggling Club Brugge side, followed by a home match against rock-bottom Wolves, so Arteta will expect to see his team bounce back immediately, thereby helping to keep the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea at bay.
