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It seems like all we’re playing is “Big games”… and that’s about right, because when you’re trying to win the league, almost EVERY game is like a cup final. The games are big, they’re huge, they’re large, they’re massive, they’re GARGANTUAN!!

This clash at Villa Park, against The Villains, is all of the above.

Aston Villa have only lost 1 home game, in their last 32, so I think it’s safe to say that they’re formidable at home. In addition to that, The Villains have won 8 of their last 9 games, and are currently the most in form team in the Premier League.

Their most recent win, was a dramatic 4-3 win, away from home to Brighton.

A truly mammoth task for The Arsenal, who are still injury ravaged, and have a few of the fit players, looking a little fatigued.

We come into this game, on the back of a 2-0 win over Brentford.

Unai Emery being the ex-Arsenal manager, has given this match A LOT more importance, over the years… and The Villains have been exactly that, in the recent meetings between the two sides. They’re moving towards “Bogey Team” status.

The Arsenal lineup included some forced changes, and not for the first time this season.

David Raya continued in goal, Calafiori at left-back, Piero Hincapie, and Jurrien Timber, central… and Benny Blanco (Ben White) at right-back.

The midfield was Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard.

Up top…It was Eze on the left, Merino through the middle, and Saka on the right.

Aston Villa started the game a lot quicker than we did… and got the Villa Park crowd rocking instantly. They roared on every pass, tackle, shot, foul, run… EVERYTHING.

Watkins had an early shot saved by Raya, which Arsenal replied to… with a Saka shot, that was saved by Martinez.

Arsenal were slowly getting into the game, but Aston Villa were the better team.

Eze put the ball in the net, after some wonderful play from Saka… but it was deemed offside.

In the 36^th minute… the ball  was picked up on the left, and a deep cross put into the Arsenal box… and Matty Cash, unmarked at the back post, fired the ball in, and put The Villains, 1-0 up.

We only had ourselves to blame, as the defending wasn’t good enough, and we hadn’t been as effective going forward, as we should’ve been… considering the attacking options we had available.

Benny Blanco had shot just before half-time.. but it was saved comfortably, by Matinez.

The half finished 1-0 to Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta wasted no time to make changes… and he brought on Trossard for Eze, and Gyokeres, for Merino.

Arteta’s half-time team talk, and the substitutions, had the desired effect… as The Arsenal immediately looked more dangerous. We also took greater care while in possession, and won a lot of our duels.

This was rewarded in the 52^nd minute, when Odegaard and Saka linked up down the right… and Saka squared the ball across the Villa box, and Trossard side-footed the ball home, from close range. A much deserved equaliser, and another important goal from Leandro Trossard. What a season he’s having.

With the scoreline now 1-1, Arsenal eagerly pushed for the winner.

Odegaard had a long-range effort tipped over the bar, Saka had a shot blocked from an Arsenal corner… but we couldn’t find the winner.

Aston Villa sat back, and tried to catch us on the break, and they had a couple of shots saved… but it felt like the game would end in a draw… and I think both teams would agree that it would be a fair result.

Unfortunately though, football isn’t fair sometimes… and the same things that make us love the beautiful game, are the very things that make us hate it.

With 90 minutes of football already played, and the clock approaching the 5^th minute of injury-time… we struggled to clear the ball, after making some good blocks. The loose ball broke to Buendia, and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net. A devastating blow, in the last kick of the game. 2-1 to Aston Villa.    

We’ve suffered another defeat, at the hands of the ex-Arsenal boss, and the ex-Arsenal, VERY ANNOYING, goalkeeper.

Oh, the pain…THE PAIN! THE PAAAAAAAIIIIIIN!!

When you consider the injuries we’ve had this season… the length of said injuries, and whose been injured, the run of games we’ve just had (Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Chelsea) It’s truly AMAZING, that we haven’t lost more games up to this point.

Oh, and we’re STILL top of the league, by the way.

Brand new superlatives must be created, to adequately give Mikel Arteta, and these Arsenal players, the credit they deserve.

That’s only our second loss of the season, which ended an unbeaten run of 18 games.

We’ve been fantastic… and I won’t allow reactionary fans, or mainstream media, to say otherwise.

I still have unshakable faith in this team, and have no doubt that we’ll dust ourselves off, get back to winning ways, and go on to achieve great things this season.

Next up, it’s an away trip to Club Brugge in the Champions League.

This is where we’ll start our next unbeaten run.

Do you agree / disagree with what I’ve said in this piece?

Have you got any views about the team, that I may of overlooked?

Are you a Tottenham fan that secretly LOVES Arsenal?

Anything you wish to discuss, let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading. COYG!!