Success that makes a champion for Arsenal. Aston Villa was not the easiest opponent, nor was the game close, but Watkins’ weak goal, Raya’s miracle and Trossard’s goal made the difference in favor of the Gunners (0-2). Arteta won the game against Emery.
It is evident that the game will be rough. Or at least, interrupted. This is visible from the start, and until the 20th minute there is not much fluidity. Among them, Cash was injured, leaving the field for the first time, and the same thing almost happened to Leon Bailey under the worried gaze of Unai Emery, who already had Kamara and Mings.
In football, equality. Game with a lot of movement in the first half, but with little success in the last meters for both sides. Emi didn’t have much work to do, as she did an amazing shot from Saka in the early stages. Aston Villa had it too, but it wasn’t Ollie Watkins’ day. The English ‘killer’, one of the top scorers last season, woke up with a sprained foot. This is the only way to explain how he was unable to take advantage of a gift on the spot, finishing directly with his ankle.
If there was one standout player during that entire period, it was Rogers. It seems logical that he got the title, because the power and verticality shown against Partey and Rice deserved it. But he has no company, bites when the ‘gunners’ are in their most harmless version.
Furthermore, if Arsenal managed to stay in the game it was thanks to Raya. Also on the crossbar, deflecting a deflected shot from Onana before the Spaniard produced a true miracle. Sold, on the ground and seemingly helpless, he stood like a cat and stuck out his hand to stop Watkins’ point-blank header from going into goal.
The changes had to come soon, that’s what the party asked for. Arsenal have been attacking with more patience, with more Odegaard and less Martinelli, who had a gray rivalry reminiscent of the second round last year, when he was more on the bench than on the field. And Arteta probably thought that too, because he decided to put Trossard in his place and the Belgian, for the first time he touched, scored a goal with his particular nose (67′).
Turned to venture for Aston Villa, knowing the risk it implied. But Unai Emery had no choice, having already taken a rejected Watkins from the field to look for other options. But the opposite happened, as Arsenal continued to enjoy more dominance, with less risk. Saka played for the center and Partey hit him at the near post, with ‘Dibu’ too slow to clear it (77′).
Arsenal managed to keep the game calm thanks to their ball handling skills, with Odegaard conceding the third, but also thanks to Saliba. With Calafiori at his side as a debutant, the French central defender made a very useful play to keep out Ramsey’s shot, in the last danger for Emery’s team.
match lineup
23
2
12
24
4
14
31
8
11
27
7
22
4
12
5
2
6
8
41
29
7
11
Villa Park
David Raya22
15′
Ben White4
75′
Jurrien Timber12
79′
71′
75′
Thomas Party5
76′
William Saliba2
Gabriel Magalhães6
56′
Martin Odegaard8
88′
Declan Rice41
48′
64′
Kai Havertz29
Bukayo Saka7
87′
64′
Gabriel Martinelli11
64′
Replacements
Aaron Ramsdale1
Jakub Kiwior15
15′
Oleksandr Zinchenko17
75′
Riccardo Calafiori33
79′
75′
Jorginho20
Ethan Nwaneri53
64′
Eddie Nketiah14
64′
Leandro Trossard19
64′
66′
Reiss Nelson24
87′
coach
Unai Emery
Mikel Arteta
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
