Aston Villa may be a side made up of John McGinn’s arse and assorted other parts, but they’re also on a half-decent 11-game winning streak in all competitions, which means they’re still within touching distance of Arsenal ahead of tomorrow’s second league meeting of the month.
The last one, as nobody needs reminding, was deeply fucking annoying. A defeat at the death that left us all heaving like we were trapped in a car with a burning, soiled nappy.
Thankfully, the damage was contained to that afternoon at Villa Park. Since then, Mikel Arteta’s side have slowly but surely rebuilt momentum, putting together five consecutive wins across three competitions. Have they all been convincing? No. Does that really matter right now? Also no.
What matters is continuing to win, which means exacting a little revenge on Unai Emery and friends tomorrow night.
Speaking after Saturday’s win over Brighton, Arteta did that thing where he lavishes praise on the opposition in an effort to remove any oxygen from the headline fire.
“We have a really tough match. We know their level, what they are doing, but it’s a beautiful game as well to prepare and play,” said Arteta.
“They merit to be there. Look at what they are doing and how consistent they’ve been, and what Unai has done with the club. I think they fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.
“We’ll watch it back. I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better. It was quite cruel as well, the way we lost it, but we’ll learn from it.”
The reaction to Emi Buendia’s late winner at Villa Park wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Hieronymus Bosch painting. Players pounding the turf. Heads buried in hands. Eyes gouged out. Appeals to higher powers. It was emotional. Borderline hellish.
Asked whether that pain could be harnessed as motivation, Arteta replied: “If you use that motivation and that anger in the right manner, for sure.”
Across the technical area, Emery has been doing his own bit of psychological landscaping. The former Arsenal manager, whose time at the club ended six years ago in circumstances we need not relive, insists Arteta’s side remain favourites for the title, while simultaneously encouraging his players to aim high.
“I think they are favourites. How they are building the team, how they are improving a lot of things, more players in their squad.
“Some players, they are coming back after being injured, like (Kai) Havertz and (Gabriel) Jesus, and of course, look and see them now, stronger.
“We are analysing them to play tomorrow like we analysed three weeks ago, and of course, we have as well enough players and enough structure tactically and individually and mentally as well to try to face them, but of course, it’s the biggest test we are going to face.
“Of course, Manchester City as well, they are performing fantastic, and we must be proud of everything we are doing and being one point behind Manchester City, three points behind Arsenal, and how we are doing our way, but we must be humble, and we must be confident, and we must be as well ambitious.
“And our ambition is, go tomorrow to face them and we’ll see how we are facing them.”
Villa arrive confident, organised, and annoyingly competent at defying the xG gods. Arsenal have some momentum and unfinished business.
It feels like one of those nights where control matters more than chaos. Which probably means it’ll be horrible.