2024-09-11 15:21:29
As close as Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery’s cities are, Aston Villa were, on their visit to the Emirates Stadium, more ‘friendly’ to Manchester City than to Arsenal.
The Birmingham team is playing for a place in the 2024-2024 Champions League, but the villans They may have squandered, intentionally or unintentionally, the London side’s bid for the league title. No one had beaten Arsenal in the Premier League so far in 2024 (10 wins and one draw), until Unai Emery’s charges arrived in north London (0-2).
Martin Ødegaard’s inspired performance during the first 45 minutes was of little use. gunners They crashed into a wall and, with five minutes left, The wall built by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium came down on Arsenal. Goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins completely silenced the fiefdom gunner.
Manchester City have proven that they don’t need ‘partners’ to win leagues, but outside help will never hurt. If Crystal Palace gave the Mancunians their first joy storming Anfield in a surprising way (0-1)Aston Villa did the same in North London. Two triumphs, those of eagles y villanswhich leaves Arsenal and Liverpool in second and third place respectively, two points (71) behind Pep Guardiola’s team (73). But the victory of Unai Emery’s pupils does not only benefit Pep Guardiola. The Birmingham team, after the Tottenham’s 4-0 defeat at Newcastleis again fourth with 63 points.
Ødegaard shines, el ‘Dibu’ too
Martin Ødegaard, who Mikel Arteta did keep in the starting eleven before the visit to the Allianz Arena – Gabriel Martinelli, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior started the match on the bench – set out to give a great performance against Aston Villa, leading the pressure, filtering passes and making his team play. And he did just that. Los gunners They recovered easily and high up, largely thanks to the Norwegian, and the chances were not long in coming.. Kai Havertz had the first, Gabriel Jesus’ header was seen in by more than one local fan and Bukayo Saka’s shot, after an impressive through ball from the local ‘8’, crashed into the side of the net.
Kai Havertz’s second-line appearances were particularly damaging for the Birmingham side, but It is just as true that Mikel Arteta’s men were better and superior to Unai Emery’s during the first 45 minutes as it is that Aston Villa were as close to opening the scoring as Arsenal.Within a minute, Ollie Watkins hit the post and ‘Dibu’ Martínez made one of those saves that elevate him to the top of the Premier League goalkeepers. Leandro Trossard’s point-blank shot was saved by the Argentine goalkeeper’s foot five minutes from the end of the first half.
Emery silences the Emirates
Unai Emery’s team is a rock, and in the second 45 minutes they proved it again. Los gunners They came out as bossy as in the first, but, once again, it was the post that was the only thing that prevented Aston Villa from scoring.Youri Tielemans’ shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal line before going wide of the home goal. Another “oops” for the followers villansalthough the best was yet to come.
Mikel Arteta began to prioritise the return leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich and, minutes after the Spanish coach substituted Martin Ødegaard, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus, Aston Villa dealt a blow that could be decisive in the race for the league title. Leon Bailey’s goal in the 84th minute silenced the Emirates Stadium, but Ollie Watkins’ goal just three minutes later silenced it..
Los villans had bottled up the home side in their own area in the final stages of the match and, unlike Arsenal, they did not waste their superiority. Pau Torres failed to finish off a pass from the left flank at the near post, but the Jamaican winger did manage to finish off the second.With Mikel Arteta’s men turning up their sleeves, Aston Villa hunted down the back line gunner in a counterattack and the English battering ram of the villanswhich He has scored 26 goals this season and is just one goal away from Erling Haaland’s 20 in the Premier Leaguechipped the ball over David Raya in a one-on-one. Second assault on the (almost) impregnable temples of Liverpool and Arsenal, in favour of Manchester City, completed.
“The best is yet to come”
Victory, clean sheet and back to fourth place. The perfect afternoon for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, and for Pau Torres. villans They stormed the Emirates Stadium and the Spanish centre-back, as he passed through the mixed zone, He spoke exclusively to AS and talkSPORT: “Coming to this stadium and winning gives the team extra recognition”. The former Villarreal player, in addition to assessing his continuity in the Aston Villa starting eleven during the last few games, He spoke about his chances of being on Luis de la Fuente’s list for next summer’s Euro Cup.
Victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium: “Yes, it was a very important victory for us. We had to take advantage of Tottenham’s slip-up and Manchester United’s draw. We wanted to distance ourselves a bit and get the three points because there is very little time left in the league and getting every point is very important. Coming here, to this stadium, and winning gives the team extra recognition and a sign that we are having a very good season. Lately it has been a bit more difficult for us, but the team is playing well again, winning and that gives confidence.”
Fight for fourth place: “Every game is very difficult. At the end of the season, every team is fighting for something: to stay in the league, to get into Europe… Each team has its own objectives, and in the Premier League you can’t be complacent in any game, and that’s what we’re seeing.”
What did Unai Emery say to you before the match against Arsenal?: “Well, today we had an opportunity, on an important field and against a great rival that is fighting for the league, to show that we are already capable of competing against this type of team. We could have beaten them at home but it was very important for us to come here and show a good image. We had to take advantage of it.”
What changed from the first to the second half?: “At half-time, both Unai (Emery) and his coaching staff showed us some footage. We saw how we could get out of the pressure from behind a little better and from then on the team settled down a little more in the opponent’s half in the second half. We were also able to have possession, which was important for us, and we had chances and opportunities in the second half. We felt more comfortable in the second half than in the first.”
How are you personally seeing this season?: “Well, I think well. It is true that the start of the season was quite good, but then I had to take some time off due to an ankle injury and I couldn’t get back into the swing of things. I came back into the team and I relapsed. Now, finally, I am without any discomfort, playing these last few games (as a starter) and gaining confidence again. The best is yet to come. The best of the season is yet to come, fighting for the Conference, which we have a very important match on Thursday, and in the league fighting to get into the Champions League, which are always important and nice things to have.”
You were not in Luis de la Fuente’s last squad. Do you still see yourself with a chance of going to Europe?: “Yes. As I said, I have to focus on the work here, at the club. Finish as high as possible and, why not, win another title for Aston Villa. From there, make things difficult for the manager and then we’ll see. He’s the one who decides and everything is respectable.”
TAKEN FROM AS NEWSPAPER