ARSENAL suffered a major setback last night with defeat to Aston Villa – marking another step in the club’s attacking slump.
For the first time since February 2016, the Gunners failed to score in two consecutive home games.
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That season saw the club miss out on arguably their best chance to win the title in years, and the mad nature of the Premier League this time around could be seen as an opportunity to aim high.
However, while Mikel Arteta has gone a long way to curing Arsenal’s defensive ailments, the attack has subsided considerably.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not scored an open play goal in the league since the opening day.
Although, he is not alone in that department as no Arsenal player has scored in open play in the league for almost six-and-a-half hours of football.
Some fans will point to Arteta’s insistence on playing his biggest threat, Aubameyang, out wide and the club captain was one of only three outfield players to fail to register a shot on Sunday night.
Indeed, it was the first Premier League home game the striker had gone without a shot in since signing in January 2018.
All of this tallies to the worst start to a season in 22 years, when it comes to hitting the back of the net.
Not since 1998 have the Gunners failed to reach double figures for goals in their opening eight league games.
Therefore, it is little surprise that Arteta has overseen four defeats on the bounce when Arsenal trail at half-time.
But it was not all doom and gloom heading into Sunday’s game, with the defence, as mentioned, a genuine high point for the season.
That collapsed dramatically against Villa, who are now second to only Chelsea in league wins at Emirates Stadium against Arsenal.
Indeed, Dean Smith’s side are turning into a bogey team for Arteta with two straight wins having suffered seven defeats on the bounce to the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka put through his own net in the first-half to extend his side’s long run without a home clean sheet.
Not since July have Arsenal shut out an opposition side in North London, with a 4-0 win over relegated Norwich.
Former goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s complete game in last night’s 3-0 win now means he has more clean sheets at the Emirates this season than Gunners stopper Bernd Leno.
It underlines how the crazy start to the Premier League season has thrown up many unexpected stats.
Arsenal had the best defence before the defeat and are now joint-sixth.
While Villa had the second-worst defence last term yet are joint-top now with zero goals let in on the road – and nine at home.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/football/premier-league/man-utd-star-diogo-dalot-wanted-by-ac-milan-in-permanent-transfer-after-shining-on-loan
