Charlie Ashmore
An interesting one this. Given the efforts of the last week, indeed the efforts over the last month, and given the challenge still to come, and bearing in mind that the prospects of European qualification through our league place were now only just this side of non existent, how would we approach this one? Changes were inevitable and there were six in total but the side picked was certainly capable of beating Villa. The plan appeared to be to have Cedric and Saka tearing up the wings, with the front three (all strikers) playing narrowly across the front such that at times we would be playing with a front five. The expectation was clearly that we would have to take the game to Villa.
However it was evident pretty much from the kick off that our game was off. Lacking in intensity we were giving the ball away with monotonous regularity. Ceballos who has been so good over recent games couldn’t maintain that level and was as guilty as any in this respect, negating the positive energy that he alone tried to impart. Villa were understandably and inevitably up for it. Their players clearly knew what the game meant to them and how important it was. Our players seemed to have forgotten that there were still two things up for grabs from our League campaign – 7th place and a Europa League spot; and finishing above Sp*rs.
Villa pressured us all over the pitch and in particular didn’t allow Saka and Cedric time and room on the flanks, nullifying the intended approach. They also looked to get forward at every opportunity and they had the most effective player on the pitch in Jack Grealish, who appeared to be everywhere for Villa and was driving them forward at every opportunity.
We had a lot of the ball but we did nothing with it. When Cedric and Saka got forward the end product wasn’t there. Saka wasn’t at the level he has performed at for most of this season. Cedric does not convince me – his crossing was awful and he gives me the impression of being one of those players to whom things happen in the game rather than him proactively influencing things.
The corner which led to the goal was needlessly given away and was typical of our careless first half play. And the defending on the corner was typically poor. Aubameyang allowed himself to be distracted by Mings who stole a march on him to get the crucial flick on. Trezeguet cleverly held back and found himself in space in the right place when the flick on landed but he still had much to do. Cedric could have made it harder still by charging him down but instead half turned and flinched. Martinez had no chance at all with the resultant shot which was struck as truly as possible.
One might have expected a reaction at this point but the half continued with just more of the same and it ended without a single shot on target. The expectation was that we would come out all guns blazing but instead it was Villa who took the game to us at the start of the half. Poor defending gave us another decent chance and even when we brought Pepe on to make it a front four, still we produced little of note. With 15 minutes to go, Villa had a great chance to go 2-0 up and put the game to bed.
We should have punished them from our next corner when Nketiah got to the ball first and headed down towards the far post away from Reina. It was bad luck not only that it came back off the post but also that it rebounded straight back into Reina’s hands. Sadly that was the only chance of note we created all night and even as the clock ticked down there was no sense of urgency or desire to force the equaliser.
And so we ended our away campaign with a dismal record of just four away wins all season. Our lowest finish since the mid ‘90s. And if we are to avoid our first season without European football in 25 years it is going to have to come with a record 14th FA Cup victory against Chelsea in 10 days time.
Just like last year, our League campaign is fizzling out and we are left hoping against hope that we can beat Chelsea in a Final to salvage the season.
I suppose the question is what if anything this result tells us:
* About the manager: I would suggest not a lot. This season has been a free hit for Arteta in that he took over at a time of crisis and has had to make do and mend. He has unquestionably shown enough to give us confidence that things will get better under his watch and getting us to a Cup Final is no mean feat.
* About the players: again, not a lot – at least not that we didn’t already know. We have a squad capable of producing big performances and getting big results. We do not have a squad currently capable of doing so consistently. What we need from them is one more big performance, at Wembley.
Going forward I think there are grounds for optimism. We have a manager who has shown himself to have considerable ability and potential. We have a squad bursting with young talent which will develop over the next 2-3 years and in the hands of a manager who at City was apparently instrumental in the development of some of the younger players. To make the most of that young talent and help it develop to its full potential will need some clever work in the market to offload the players who seem unlikely to play for us again (Ozil, Sokratis and Guendouzi for example) and to bring in some experience and quality. Time for the Executive arm of the Club to step up and in the words of the banner flown over Villa Park tonight “back Arteta”.
(Ed’s note – my thanks to Charlie Ashmore for covering me for the editorial on last night’s match, which I was – fortunately as it turned out – unable to catch)
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