Blame game
WATKINS SNATCHES BIG VICTORY
MIKEL ARTETA left Villa Park with the hump as Ollie Watkins served up another harsh reminder for the misfiring Gunners.
Arsenal’s boss headed home from the West Midlands for the second time in four days nursing a sense of grievance as a gutsy show from Dean Smith’s men poured salt into open wounds.
The Spaniard was miffed at a couple of decisions that didn’t go his way but ultimately, instead of pointing the finger at the officials’ room, had greater cause to blame his own players.
In Wolverhampton on Wednesday night he was irritated by David Luiz’s dismissal. In Birmingham, it was a tackle on the halfway line and a penalty decision that annoyed him as ref Chris Kavanagh came under his microscope.
But the reality was that a slow start and calamitous error which led to Watkins’ winner left his team with a difficult task against a side smarting from their own disappointment against West Ham in midweek.
Arteta delivered his verdict through gritted teeth, and said: “It was a really strong performance – again.
“We dominated in every department but when you give an opponent an early goal and another three chances and you aren’t ruthless in the other team’s box, you won’t win games.
“I was very happy with how quickly we regained the ball, how aggressive we were, but we weren’t good enough to win. They were better in both boxes.
“I want us to be more ruthless. It’s cost us twice in the last four days.”
Arteta, who lost Thomas Partey to injury, first saw Ezri Konza caught in a race from the halfway line with Bukayo Saka only for the action to stop in a tangle of legs.
Villa’s defender was booked and Smith felt the decision should have gone in the other direction.
However, Arteta also claimed that a grappling match at a corner early in the second half between former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez – who was excellent throughout – and Alexandre
Lacazette ended with a free-kick being given in Villa’s direction.
He made a beeline for Kavanagh at the final whistle to make his feelings known but added: “I will keep that between me and him.”
The ex-playmaker should save some of his ire for players who are making mistakes that have had a huge bearing on the past 180 minutes’ action.
Luiz contributed to his own problems at Molineux and here it was an underhit pass back to Gabriel from Cedric Soares on Arsenal’s left that allowed Villa to take the lead after only 74 seconds.
Bertrand Traore nipped in to take possession and skirted easily around Gabriel. He pulled the ball back to Watkins who scored via a deflection off Rob Holding, registering his 10th goal in 21 Premier League outings.
The match swung this way and that. Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession but the direct shots count – which was heavily in Villa’s favour – shows which keeper came under more threat.
That said, Tyrone Mings made block after block. Martinez stopped superbly from Nicolas Pepe’s deflected effort and sub Martin Odegaard blazed over as the visitors piled forward. Watkins produced a good save from Mat Ryan, was slightly off-beam with another and Ross Barkley lashed one into the sidenetting when well placed.
Smith said: “I’m really pleased. It was a solid performance and the victory was deserved as well.
“It was a test for my players. I put it on them before the game.
“We have looked a good team at times this season and that’s because of our work ethic and team spirit.
“I don’t think we had that against West Ham.
“That night we wanted to be a good team without putting the work in. The players answered my criticism.
“The cherry on the cake was that they’d have Monday off as well as Sunday. They earned it.”
Martinez 7; Cash 7, Konsa 6, Mings 7, Targett 7; Nakamba 7, McGinn 7, Barkley 6 (Ramsey 78th) Traore 7 (Trezeguet 66th) 5); Grealish 6, Watkins 8
Ryan 6; Soares 4 (Odegaard (65th) 6), Gabriel 5, Holding 6, Bellerin 7; Partey 6 (Willian (74th) 5), Xhaka 6, Pepe 5, Saka 6, Smith Rowe 5; Lacazette 4 (Aubameyang (59th) 5)
Ollie Watkins
C Kavanagh