The outcome of the game summed up Arsenal’s night.
Brazilian forward Willian was about 12 yards from Villa’s goal when the ball bounced to him early in the second half. The Brazilian set the ball like a dinner table, steadied himself, and then squandered his effort so wide, the ball eventually came to a stop near the corner flag.
The forward protested helplessly for a corner, but he knew it was a goal kick. It was an appeal more out of embarrassment than anything else.
And embarrassment was the outline of Arsenal’s game on Sunday, as they were massacred by a vibrant Villa side who gave them a lesson in attacking football.
Taking the lead by 1-0 at half-time through a Bukayo Saka own goal, the visitors ran riot after the interval and could easily have won by far more than just 3-0.
Arsenal had no answer to Jack Grealish, John McGinn, Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins, with Villa’s attacking quartet pulling the Arsenal defence apart at will with their pace and movement.
Watkins scored two excellent goals and only some last-ditch defending from Rob Holding and Dani Ceballos prevented Arteta’s side from falling to an even more humbling defeat.
This was the Spaniard’s darkest night since he took over from Unai Emery almost a year ago.
The work he has done since arriving in north London last December has been admirable, but Arteta must shoulder a lot of the blame for this defeat, Arsenal’s fourth in eight Premier League games this season.
Once again he started with Willian and Alexandre Lacazette in a front three alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, despite both players struggling for any sort of form.
Willian has not had an assist since his debut at Fulham on the opening day of the season and is still searching for his first Arsenal goal, while Lacazette has not netted since the defeat at Liverpool on September 28.
Both once again got the nod from Arteta against Villa, however, but neither could repay their manager’s faith.
Lacazette goofed a golden opportunity to send Arsenal in level before the interval, when he headed over Kieran Tierney’s cross. That proved to be his only effort of the game.
Arsenal’s attack looks disturbingly sluggish, and until Arteta can find a solution, an assault on the top four looks a long way off.
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