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Arsenal's season has been full of late goals but, no matter what the added time was here at Villa Park, it never felt like Mikel Arteta’s side were going to find the net.
Two disallowed goals, a host of missed chances and a waved penalty shout told the story of a match where Arsenal banged on the door, but it never opened.
The frustration for Mikel Arteta was clear to see. Sat in the stands he cut a glum figure as time ticked away and, seconds before the final whistle went, he swiftly headed for the dressing room.
Arsenal may feel grievances about some of the officiating, but they were also guilty of missing several big chances as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat that means they are second in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta was serving a touchline ban
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Liverpool had leapfrogged them earlier on Saturday with a late rally against Crystal Palace, but there was none of that here.
Instead, Arteta could only watch from the stands at Villa Park as he served his touchline ban for a third yellow card of the season against Luton on Tuesday.
The hosts, in stark contrast, were jubilant at the full-time whistle as they rounded off a week where they beat both Arsenal and Manchester City. Villa are now just two points off leaders Liverpool and perhaps Pep Guardiola was right that they are title contenders.
Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/arsenal-learn-two-valuable-title-race-lessons-in-aston-villa-defeat-38698568
