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The Gunners fell 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday for their fourth Premier League defeat of the season.
It was a moment that summed up Arsenal’s night.
Willian was about 12 yards away when the ball dropped early in the second half against Aston Villa. The Brazilian took a bunt, steadied himself, and then desperately dragged his effort, with the ball finally coming to a stop near the corner flag.
He yelled for a corner, but he knew it was a goal kick. It was an appeal more out of embarrassment than anything else.
And shame was the theme of Arsenal’s night on Sunday as they were beaten by a vibrant Villa team who gave them a lesson in offensive football.
Leading 1-0 at the break with an own goal from Bukayo Saka, the visitors were wild after the break and could have easily won by much more than 3-0.
Arsenal had no answer for Jack Grealish, John McGinn, Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins, with Villa’s attacking quartet separating Arsenal’s defense at will with their pace and movement.
Watkins scored two excellent goals and only a last-minute defense from Rob Holding and Dani Ceballos kept Arteta’s team from falling into an even more humiliating defeat.
This was the Spanish’s darkest night since he replaced Unai Emery almost a year ago.
The work he has put in since arriving in North London last December has been admirable, but Arteta must bear much of the blame for this loss, Arsenal’s fourth in eight Premier League games this season.
Once again, it started with Willian and Alexandre Lacazette on a front of three alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, even though both players were fighting in whatever form.
Willian has been unassisted since his debut at Fulham on the season opener and is still looking for his first goal for Arsenal, while Lacazette has not scored since a loss to Liverpool on 28 September.
However, they both once again got the nod from Arteta against Villa, but neither was able to return their coach’s faith.
Lacazette missed a golden opportunity to equalize Arsenal before the break when he headed a cross from Kieran Tierney. That turned out to be his only effort in the game.
He was finally replaced by Eddie Nketiah in the 65th minute. During his time on the court, Lacazette touched the ball 15 times and managed just nine passes, two of which were in the Villa’s half.
It was an abject performance from Lacazette and was matched by Willian, whose mistake led to Villa’s opening goal and who continues to look lost amid his new surroundings in North London.
The performance and manner of the loss raise serious questions about where Arsenal stands with Arteta, with Villa ruthlessly exposing the problems the Spaniard has been struggling to fix since his arrival.
Things just don’t work out in an offensive sense, with Aubameyang remaining totally isolated on the left wing.
With Lacazette continually offering next to nothing in the final third, it’s incredibly difficult to justify playing the best spiker in the club and the most prolific scorer on the wing.
The Gabon international did not have a single shot against Villa and has only scored once in open play all season, away from Fulham on the season opener.
Arteta’s three forwards are just not working and need a change. It has been almost five hours since Arsenal scored a Premier League goal from open play.
As for creativity, they desperately lack someone who can open teams. How Arteta must wish she had someone of Grealish’s quality to call.
Villa’s captain created six chances during 90 minutes Sunday night and was a constant thorn in the Gunners defense, with his movement and eye for the pass.
Arsenal have no one like that in their ranks, apart from the now-outcast Mesut Ozil, of course.
The decision to leave German will always be judged based on the results. When they go as they did against Villa, then Arteta must accept the criticism that is presented to him.
Arsenal have made progress with the Spaniard, with the FA Cup obviously already hidden in the trophy cabinet. Defensively they are better and now have a structure that generally makes them harder to beat.
But Villa’s defeat brought back memories of the dark days towards the end of the Emery era, and Arteta must make sure that kind of performance is unique and does not become the norm.
His seemingly unshakable faith in Willian and Lacazette makes it seem like he has favorites, and that’s never a good thing. Nicolas Pepe scored two goals in his last two starts leading up to Villa’s game, but once again was left on the bench in favor of the out-of-form Brazilian.
Pepe may have problems of his own, but at least he offers a real goal threat and can make something happen out of nowhere.
Arsenal’s attack seems to be slowing down, and until Arteta can figure out a way to fix it, an assault on the top four seems a long way off.
