BREAKING NEWS: ” I made a terrible mistake starting him in that match if not by now we should be celebrating a win and not a loss he killed the game and made his teammates unproductive”. Arsenal manager mikel after has slammed one of his players after a terrible performance in the team’s latest match. Arteta said that the player was “wayward” and abject, and that his performance was the worst of the season. The player’s sluggish and lacklustre display was a far cry from his usual high standards, and arteta made no “bones” about his “displeasure”. Arteta Slams ‘Wayward’ Player After ‘Abject’ Display – ‘Worst Performance of the Season”.

Arsenal supporters on X platform voiced their disappointment with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard following their lackluster performances in Arsenal’s surprising 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Despite Liverpool’s earlier loss to Crystal Palace, Arsenal couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to close the gap, as Unai Emery’s Villa secured a crucial victory.

Aston Villa displayed solid defensive prowess throughout the match before striking late with goals from Leon Bailey in the 84th minute and Ollie Watkins in the 87th minute, sealing the win. With 71 points from 32 games, Arsenal currently sit in second place in the Premier League standings, trailing Manchester City by two points.

Fans were particularly critical of Saka and Odegaard for their underwhelming performances against Villa. Saka failed to register a shot on target from four attempts, completed zero dribbles and long balls, and lost five duels. Similarly, Odegaard struggled to make an impact in midfield, losing four duels and failing to land a single shot on target.

One fan expressed frustration, stating: “What service? Saka, Odegaard perennial bottle merchants.” Other reactions included:
– “It’s that simple, we need to forgo the UCL, we are not winning it, period. Saka, Odegaard & co are worn out.”
– “Saka – poor, Odegaard – exhausted, Zinny – hmm, Arteta – probably regrets the starting lineup, Martinelli – been questionable lately with his kick and run football.”
– “Saka and Odegaard when they are needed the most…”
– “Bukayo Saka has done his trademark limp after a stinker yet again.”
– “Saka today. 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 shots on target, 14 times possession lost. ‘Starboy’.”
– “You cannot build a team around Bukayo Saka and expect to achieve big things. He doesn’t have that star magic that players like Foden have, and more importantly, he lacks the technical ability to be an impactful player when his team is having a bad day up front.”

In analyzing the match, Arsenal’s defeat left them stunned as Aston Villa completed a Premier League double over them for the third time in history, following the 1992-93 and 2020-21 seasons, with a 2-0 victory. Examining the statistics, Arsenal held a slight edge in possession with 51 percent of the ball and attempted 444 passes with an 86 percent accuracy rate. Conversely, Aston Villa had 49 percent possession, attempted 421 passes with an 82 percent accuracy rate, and had fewer shots overall. Despite Arsenal’s 18 shots and four on target, they lacked clinical finishing, while Villa managed to capitalize on their opportunities with 11 shots, two of which were on target.