Oh Unai, what have you done? The Spaniard, already a villain in north London, has now further tarnished his reputation, dealing a significant blow to Arsenal’s title aspirations in a dramatic fashion on Sunday.
At the final whistle in the Emirates Stadium, where Aston Villa triumphed 2-0 over the Gunners, the stands appeared deserted, a stark contrast to the fervent atmosphere of days past.
Ironically, Emery is no stranger to such scenes. Towards the end of his tenure at Arsenal, disenchanted supporters boycotted matches, creating a toxic atmosphere that permeated the club, largely attributed to the team’s performance following the departure of Arsene Wenger.
The former Arsenal manager has since moved on to helm Aston Villa, leaving behind a legacy of discontent. His successor, Mikel Arteta, has endeavored to rebuild and rejuvenate the squad, guiding them to two consecutive seasons of contention for the title.
However, post the occurrences of Sunday afternoon, it might not suffice to overthrow Manchester City. Following the events of last season, this scenario feels all too familiar.
Regarding what transpired incorrectly for Arsenal, Liverpool’s defeat just hours earlier, losing 1-0 against Crystal Palace, presented an excellent opportunity for Arsenal to potentially transform the competition into a two-horse title race.
City had previously triumphed over Luton Town a day prior and commenced the day at the summit of the table. As a result, they concluded the weekend in the same position, appreciative of both Palace and Villa for providing significant assistance.
But, where did Arsenal stumble? Well, it’s challenging to pinpoint precisely. Arsenal dominated the initial half, and to be frank, should have secured a few goals ahead by halftime.
Leandro Trossard inexplicably directed an attempt at Emi Martinez from close quarters, Gabriel Jesus nodded an effort into the side setting, Kai Havertz had several attempts thwarted, and Bukayo Saka, consistently lively, narrowly missed curling the ball wide of the far post.
All this occurred in a frenetic 45 minutes where, save for a goal, Arsenal resembled genuine title contenders.
Consequently, the second half was inexcusable. Arteta’s squad relinquished control and granted the visitors the upper hand. Villa began to assert more possession, and through Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins late in the game, sealed a remarkable victory, propelling them significantly in their quest for Champions League football.
Oddly enough, Emery remarked that he saw no need for adjustments during halftime. When questioned about any changes made, the Spanish coach responded: “No, the same. The first half was the same game plan, only the first half we didn’t do because the opponent was pushing being more successful on the pitch as well tactically.
“The second half we tried to continue building up, trying to avoid the press and then trying to maybe find Zaniolo with the long ball, the hold up was fantastic.”
So, was this defeat solely Arsenal’s fault? Most likely. It’s concerning, as no away team has seemed as dominant at N5 since Brighton last season.
Adjustments are necessary, beginning with considering what to do about Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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This match demanded Arsenal’s key players, such as Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, to step up and dominate the game.
Unfortunately, both players failed to meet expectations under Arteta’s management. This is especially disappointing considering Jakub Kiwior’s commendable performance in the absence of his positional colleague due to injury.
Kiwior showcased exceptional skill during Arsenal’s recent successful streak, contributing a goal and two assists in victories against Burnley, Newcastle, and Sheffield United. His ability to efficiently participate in offensive plays was evident.
While Zinchenko, known for his inverted full-back role, possesses similar capabilities, Kiwior demonstrated superior defensive prowess. His composed demeanor and minimal errors stood out during matches.
In stark contrast, Zinchenko’s performance in the recent game was lackluster, earning a low rating of 4/10. James Benge of CBS accurately characterized the former Man City player’s display as disappointing.
He noted; “the quietly good moments didn’t come close to outweighing the unmissably bad.”
Zinchenko’s tenure at Arsenal has been defined by a consistent struggle with errors and possession loss, despite his impact on the team’s playing style.
His recent performance exemplified this trend, as he contributed to a chaotic sequence leading to a near-goal opportunity for the opposition.
Throughout the match, Zinchenko appeared out of sync with his defensive counterparts, often found out of position and lacking cohesion.
The match against Villa served as a stark reminder of Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities, with Zinchenko’s shortcomings amplifying the team’s challenges.
As the season progresses, Arsenal may regret relying on players like Zinchenko, whose inconsistencies pose a significant risk to the team’s success.
Moving forward, it may be prudent for Arsenal to explore alternative defensive options, such as Tomiyasu or Kiwior, to address the deficiencies highlighted by Zinchenko’s performance.