Arsenal fans have been saying all season that the lack of killer instinct in front of goal could eventually cost their team dear, and none more so than during the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa at the weekend. 

Here's Max Martin on Arsenal's lack of clinicality, which has caused them problems all season. 

Arsenal lost ground in the title race over the weekend as they lost 1-0 away to Aston Villa, writes Max Martin

John McGinn's early goal for his fourth of the season - the 29-year-old's best return in a single campaign - was enough for Arsenal to succumb to only their second league defeat this term.

Saturday's win was Villa's record 15th in a row at home in the league which just shows how Villa Park has become a fortress in 2023.

Yes, there were some decisions from referee Jarred Gillett that Arsenal felt rightfully aggrieved by. Not least when Douglas Luiz caught Gabriel Jesus' ankle in the area, only for the VAR to uphold referee Gillett's decision to wave play on - but that was not why the Gunners lost the game.

Last Wednesday, Villa beat City 1-0 - the same scoreline as the victory over Arteta's Arsenal - yet the manner of the defeats were very different.

Villa dominated City, they had 22 shots compared to City's two, which were both before the 12th minute. Villa created 2.04 xG compared to City's 0.83xG.

According to Understat, Villa only created 0.61xG against Arsenal, the least they have created at home all season.

Defeat at Villa Park nothing to be ashamed of...

Villa are having an excellent season, so a defeat at fortress Villa Park is nothing to be ashamed of.

However, overall, Arsenal were the better team in the game and had a number of chances they should have put away. 

Captain Martin Odegaard had two efforts from positions that he has been scoring from all season. And while Gabriel Jesus was lively, the Brazilian attacker he failed to put the ball in the net. As did substitute Eddie Nketiah, who missed with a late effort that could have secured a vital point had his last-gasp header beaten Emi Martinez. 

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Arteta rued the missed opportunities, saying: "You have to put the ball in the net and that's the only thing we missed because we generated some big, big chances.”

The rest of the weekend's results added more misery for Arteta as City, Liverpool and Spurs all won.

Arsenal only have themselves to blame for falling off the top of the table after their six game winning streak in all competitions was halted in the West Midlands.  

In a league as competitive as this, Arsenal simply cannot afford to miss the chances that they did against Unai Emery's side. 

No wonder Gooners are calling for a striker to be signed in January.

This article is taken from a longer piece by Max Martin that first appeared on his MM Blog 

Looking to get the blog going again, here is my first post in a while! My thoughts on Arsenal's loss against Aston Villa at the weekend. https://t.co/8EtYLEqaDU

— Max Martin (@journomax) December 11, 2023