Arsenal count cost of defensive injuries
For Arsenal, defeat to Aston Villa was made more painful by the lateness of the decisive goal. But as Mikel Arteta pointed out, it could have happened sooner. "We gave two balls away that could have cost us the game before the actual goal," he said.
The Gunners could not be accused of a lack of effort defensively. Time and again they hurled themselves in front of shots. Their total of seven blocks was their second-highest in a game this season. But the repeated last-ditch defending betrayed their shakiness.
Usually, they do not need those desperate interventions. But these are not usual circumstances, with Cristhian Mosquera having been added to a centre-back injury list which already included first-choice duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The injuries called for Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber to start together for the first time at centre-back. The instability has taken a toll. Arsenal have conceded in four out of five games since Gabriel's injury, having only done so in three out of 17 previously.
Villa were excellent but Arsenal were there to be got at. Their total of 2.27 expected goals against underlined the quality of the chances Villa were able to create. The figure accounted for roughly 25 per cent of Arsenal's total across 15 Premier League games this season.
Gabriel and the rest can't return soon enough.
Nick Wright
Are Villa now title contenders?
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Highlights of the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal
Aston Villa's improvement in form that has seen them win nine of their last 10 games having failed to pick up a single win in their opening five Premier League games has taken time to convince. They were poor in their previous home fixture against Wolves.
After that narrow victory, Emery was facing questions about his side's lack of goal threat, Villa ranking just above the bottom three for expected goals despite their promising run of results. But the last two games have transformed that perspective.
Their 4-3 win away to Brighton in midweek saw Villa create their best quality chances of any Premier League game this season, according to that expected-goals data. Emery's side have followed that up with their second most creative display against the leaders.
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Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen can now both be considered in form, while Morgan Rogers was outstanding when driving at the Arsenal defence. Emiliano Buendia coming off the bench late on to score the winner underlined that Villa have some options now.
Enough to make them title contenders? Mikel Arteta suggested that the Premier League was self-explanatory, Villa moving up to second upon the final whistle [before being overtaken again by Man City], undoubtedly the form team in the competition. Emery is more circumspect about their prospects.
"I am not thinking of it," he replied when Arteta's comments were put to him in the press conference after the game. "I know 38 matches is very difficult. We are not a contender. If we were in the day 35, perhaps we can speak differently." But it is not quite so clear.
With Liverpool in disarray, while Manchester City and Chelsea continue to look vulnerable, Villa have just inflicted a damaging defeat on probably the Premier League's strongest side - the only one that has looked capable of running away with this title.
If form and fitness were to slow Arsenal's early-season progress, leaving the door ajar for another team to capitalise on that, it is this maturing Aston Villa team, whatever Emery might claim, who are beginning to look like an outfit that might just walk through it.
Adam Bate
Chelsea's striker issue: one goal in 14 and Delap's injury
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Highlights from the Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Chelsea
Chelsea's goalless draw with Bournemouth hammered home the notion that Enzo Maresca has a centre-forward problem and it's now impossible to ignore.
Chelsea generated plenty of territory, pressure and enough moments to suggest a big moment was coming but once again the decisive action inside the box simply wasn't there. The spotlight inevitably falls on Chelsea's starting striker - and the numbers are stark. The starting Chelsea centre-forward has just one goal in 14 Premier League games. It's becoming a damaging trend and one that could put Maresca in a spot of bother soon enough.
And now, Liam Delap's shoulder injury removes the one internal option who offered a stylistic alternative of more direct running, more physicality and more willingness to attack space. Chelsea's shortage in attack is holding them back.
Lewis Jones