Ian Wright, an esteemed figure at Arsenal, admitted that the team fell short of their usual standards in the latter part of their Premier League encounter against Aston Villa last Sunday.
Despite a promising start and an impressive performance in the first half, Arsenal endured a frustrating 2-0 defeat against Unai Emery’s Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
While Arsenal initially posed a significant threat going forward, Villa asserted control in the second half and sealed the win with late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.
Wright commended Villa for their bravery and performance, noting their superiority over Arsenal in various aspects throughout the match.
He observed that Arsenal’s performance in the second half was markedly different from their earlier efforts.
The defeat dealt a blow to Arsenal’s aspirations in the Premier League title race, as they now sit in second place, trailing Manchester City by two points.
Liverpool occupy third place following their 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, played a pivotal role in the match against Palace, showcasing his influence in guiding the team’s attacking endeavors.
However, Odegaard was substituted in the 79th minute for Emile Smith Rowe due to an undisclosed injury.
Arteta later revealed that Odegaard was unable to continue due to discomfort, although he did not elaborate further on the nature of the injury.
Despite this setback, Arteta stressed the importance of acknowledging the strengths of the opposition in defeat and underscored the need for effective responses to adversity during matches.
