I tend to write two types of blog posts. One type is a chronological summary of the action, and the other more of a list of what I regard as the hottest takes from a particular game. This post is going to be a bit more of the latter - so off we go:
And the headline is the return of Gabriel Maghaeles, which sparked a change in fortune for Arsenal as they finally reaped the rewards that their general domination of most of their recent opponents deserved.
This game was, of course, massive. And victory imperative. With Manchester City within touching distance, Villa on a long winning streak and revenge in the air, a statement needed to be made.
Firstly; team news. And we’d known from mid-afternoon that Declan Rice was going to be out. Extremely worrying in the context of this match. This was tempered by the knowledge that Big Gabi and Jurrien Timber were to return, and that Ben White and the long-term absent Kai Havertz were going to make the bench. The loss of Riccardo Calafiori during the warm-up was a further blow, however. Hincapie, originally benched to make room for Gabriel, was drafted back into the side.
The renewal of the best central defensive partnership in world football had a positive effect on every part of the team; although it did take a little while for the players to get to grips with Aston Villa’s early tactics, and particularly the power and pace of Amadou Onana. Critically, neither Gabriel nor Saliba had been available for the painful loss at Villa Park earlier in the month. Whilst the team can cope short term without one or the other, both being missing is another matter entirely.
It is worth noting also that with Eze, Martinelli, Jesus and Havertz on the bench there was no room whatsoever for Ethan Nwaneri. I remarked as soon as Eze was signed that Nwaneri was likely to be the biggest sufferer in terms of game time, and that has certainly come to pass. Quite what the immediate future holds for the extraordinarily talented teenager I do not know. Nor do I know what guarantees Arteta will be able to give him as regards game time.
Arsenal featured the ‘Real Sociedad’ midfield of Zubimendi, Merino and Odegaard, but for a while the trio looked a little at sixes and sevens, with simple through balls enabling Villa to carve their way through a gigantic Declan Rice-shaped hole in the midfield. Onana, all power and telescopically long legs, and Rogers took the game to Arsenal at pace, and the early stages of the game were rather worrying.
Arteta and the players did manage to tweak a few things ‘on the hoof', with Merino obliged to drop deeper than ideal, and the centre halves playing a little closer together. This essentially nullified the threat to a great extent, but the half was pretty even. Saliba’s pace and positioning were crucial at times, as Villa looked to hit the home side on the break; one interception in particular was world class.
The biggest opportunities for either side in the first half centred around Viktor Gyokeres, who squandered two presentable headed chances, and whose lack of strength and awareness against the Villa press offered up a real opportunity for Watkins. Must do better.
Worth noting Villa’s time-wasting at this point. The ball was in play for just 24 minutes in the first half, as referee England exhibited very little understanding or control of what was going on. Just three minutes of injury time when it ought to have been 6 or 7. And worth mentioning pantomime villain Emi Martinez at this point - booed at every touch of the ball, and exacerbating matters by pushing the limits of the crowd’s patience throughout. Still, Instant Karma’s gonna get you (John Lennon knew…).
Onana, who had spent a good three minutes down injured in the first half and who had been having a running battle with Merino, failed to appear after half time. This, coupled with extra intensity from the home side, changed the course of the match.
I have a long-term superstition that I take to home games; the requirement for a ‘lucky second half lollipop’. For much of this season, I hadn’t felt the need to even unwrap it (Manchester City having been the exception), but it was out and ready as the second half started - and it immediately paid dividends as, from a corner, the pantomime villain contrived to drop the ball into his own net with Gabriel in very close attendance. Look, the guy made himself very unpopular with some of the stuff he said when he left the club, so it was extra pleasurable to know that it was his mistake that led to the goal. It’s Christmas time, so I’ll chuck in a seasonal Ho Ho Ho.
From that point there was really only one winner. But a word of caution: Merino, already booked in the first half following a tangle with Onana, was perhaps fortunate not to receive a second yellow for a tug back on Rogers. Rightly, Arteta hauled him off as fast as he could.
Thereafter, Arsenal continued to take the game to their opponents. Odegaard, who had been working on his aggression in the press on the training ground with Gabriel Heinze, reaped the rewards of that hard work when he robbed Sancho, drove towards goal and played an exquisite through ball for Zubimendi to finish cleverly. And here’s the thing… here was the supposed further forward of the midfield trio pressing from deep, and finding the ‘most defensive’ of the three as he burst into the penalty area. Bravery and fluidity.
We had noted that Odegaard had been heading back to his best over the past few weeks, and his second half performance backed this up as he took the rest of the game by the scruff of the neck. Our skipper is most definitely back. On a day when Bukayo Saka was noticeably quieter than we’d have hoped, it is important for others to step up. Which he certainly did.
The two further goals that soon followed were both superb finishes. Trossard curled one into the corner from 18 yards and then Gabriel Jesus, on for Gyokeres and with his first touches of the ball first controlled and then exquisitely finished past Martinez; the latter in a manner that I doubt Gyokeres is capable of doing. At 3-0 and then 4-0, the atmosphere in the crowd was joyous - and all the more for being so unexpected bearing in mind how the first half had gone. The Villa fans - for whom I’ve had a massive dislike since hearing their sickening chant about Aaron Ramsey following his leg break at Stoke - slunk off back north to their mountains of waste lining the streets.
The 94th minute concession to Watkins was annoying - worth noting that Gabriel had been withdrawn by that point - but the celebrations continued. Television recorded that Unai Emery classlessly ran off down the tunnel without shaking Arteta’s hand. And Emi Martinez was taunted relentlessly as he went down the tunnel. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke, if you ask me… And I half-expect Villa to suffer a semi-collapse at this point.
By the way, if anyone is concerned about the negative effects of competition for the centre forward position, just take a look at this photograph:
Further good news, with Manchester City dropping points at Sunderland to open up a 4-point gap. Remember when Arsenal ‘only’ drawing there was apparently a disaster? Just 57 points left to play for…
Players are coming and going due to injury/recovery, but hopefully the squad will remain robust enough to survive the inevitable problems. It’s big enough; let’s face it - and I can’t see any incomings in this Transfer Window barring some sort of disastrous clutch of injuries in one spot. Outgoings? - maybe a loan for Nwaneri, which I’d be sad about to be honest.
The games continue to come thick and fast. Bournemouth away on Saturday will be the first of no less than 9 matches in January. For me, having theatre tickets on Saturday evening (preceded by a pre-theatre meal booked with friends) is going to require careful handling. Phone off - news blackout - watch 'as live' when I get home. Thanks ever so much, Sky Sports...
Anyway, Arsenal move on happily into 2026; surveying all and sundry from the summit of every table. One game at a time, of course... but I believe that there is still more to come from this group. COYG!
And finally a word for Chelsea FC; MAD! That is all...
