Mikel Arteta’s frustration was palpable on Saturday night as Arsenal squandered yet another two-goal advantage, leaving the Emirates in disbelief.

The Spanish manager was visibly upset, crouching on the touchline with his hand pressed to his forehead as the Gunners failed to hold onto their lead against Aston Villa.

Arsenal supporters, too, shared the same sense of exasperation, as they watched their team drop yet another set of valuable points in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s Ongoing Struggles with Dropping Points

This isn’t the first time this season that Arsenal has thrown away points from winning positions.

In fact, this latest draw with Villa marks the 12th time the Gunners have dropped points after being in a leading position.

It’s the most they’ve lost from such situations in a single season since 2019-20.

By comparison, rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City have dropped far fewer points from similar positions this season.

Arsenal’s inability to hold onto leads is becoming a concerning pattern, one that has undermined their aspirations of challenging for the title.

Aston Villa Seize Their Moment

Aston Villa, led by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, capitalized on Arsenal’s defensive frailty.

After Youri Tielemans pulled one back for Villa in the 60th minute, the momentum shifted.

Tielemans hit the post just moments after his goal, and Villa’s Ollie Watkins struck the equalizer only a few minutes later.

Arsenal’s lack of defensive resilience was exposed, and it became evident that Villa sensed an opportunity to take all three points.

Injuries and Defensive Instability Take Their Toll

Part of Arsenal’s struggles stemmed from a defensive lineup that was constantly changing.

Saturday’s game saw the Gunners field their 11th different defensive setup in just 22 league matches, due to injuries to key players like William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Saliba’s absence in particular was felt, as his calm leadership and ability to handle counter-attacks were sorely missed when Villa pressed forward.

His previous absence against Liverpool also led to Arsenal dropping points, and his absence again highlighted the importance of his presence at the back.

Arsenal’s Attacking Issues and Lack of Squad Depth

While Arsenal did manage to score twice in the first hour, their inability to convert further chances highlighted a deeper issue: a lack of squad depth in attacking positions.

Mikel Arteta could only rely on a limited number of substitutes, with Raheem Sterling and a couple of academy players available to make a difference.

In contrast, Villa had attacking options like Jhon Duran, Leon Bailey, and Donyell Malen on their bench, all of whom could have made an impact.

The lack of attacking options became even more apparent when Arsenal couldn’t capitalize on their earlier opportunities, with Leandro Trossard missing a key chance in injury time.

The Pressure on Arteta to Address Arsenal’s Depth

The situation was made worse by Liverpool’s last-minute victory over Brentford earlier in the day.

Jurgen Klopp’s side managed to secure the win with the help of late substitutes like Darwin Nunez, who scored the decisive goals.

Arteta acknowledged this difference in squad depth, remarking that Liverpool’s substitutes made a noticeable impact, whereas Arsenal’s bench was unable to provide a similar boost.

This defeat once again puts the pressure on Arteta and the club’s ownership.

Arsenal desperately needs to strengthen their squad, especially in the forward positions.

However, a new signing won’t fix the deeper issue of consistently failing to hold onto leads.

For Arsenal to stay in the title race, they must address both their attacking inefficiencies and their vulnerability from winning positions.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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