Mikel Arteta was not having it from a reporter after Arsenal’s disappointing loss to Aston Villa. It was smooth sailing for the Gunners ahead of Sunday nights match-up. In an unexpected turn of events, Arsenal fell 2-0 at home to forfeit the top spot to Manchester City. Following the game, Mikel Arteta gave a rather ‘cocky’ reply to a reporter who questioned him on his choice of line-up.
A reporter inquired into why Arteta did not include Gabriel Martinelli and chose Leandro Trossard instead. A visibly frustrated Arteta gave a rather angry response to the question.
I'm the manager and I decide the line-up! Mikel Arteta said in a press conference
Martinelli had started the game against Bayern Munich and was excluded from the squad to face Aston Villa. Many believe that Martinelli is unfit even though Arteta may have kept him out for technical reasons as well.
Several fans commented that Arteta lost his cool after letting go of top spot in the Premier League. Others made fun of the manager for his so called ‘composure’ and ‘respect’ for opponents.
Arsenal let go of top spot with 2-0 loss to Aston Villa
Fans wondered if Arsenal were in for a repeat of last season as the Gunners slipped up in the run-up to the season finale yet again! After missing out on the league title by the finest of margins last year, fans may be in for a repeat of the same this year too. Arsenal looked far from their best as Villa nearly took the lead early on.
The Arsenal backline played themselves into trouble as Ollie Watkins‘ shot hit the post and went just wide of the goal. Former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez then kept out a shot from point blank by Gabriel Jesus before Bukayo Saka‘s shot went just wide of the post. The Gunners’ worst nightmare became a reality as Leon Bailey fired into an empty net.
To add to their misery, Ollie Watkins got on the end of a late counter-attack, shook off his marker and chipped David Raya from a tight angle. As the home crowd were thoroughly silenced by the unexpected loss, fans brought up last season’s failures and how Declan Rice had vowed to right their wrongs of the 2022/23 season.
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