Paul Merson and Jeff Stelling questioned why Arsenal players weren’t getting the ball in the box in stoppage-time during their defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
In the dying moments of the game host, Stelling told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports that it was ‘staggering’ that Arsenal were playing the ball short.
Ollie Watkins, who netted a brace at the Emirates during the reverse fixture, was at it again yesterday, as his early goal was enough to seal all three points for Dean Smith’s men.
But as the clock was ticking down to the final whistle, this is how both Stelling and Merson reacted to Arsenal’s tactics.
“Before the next Arsenal game, I suggest that they have a new slogan in the dressing room which says ‘put the ball in the box’,” said Stelling.
“It’s the last minute and you don’t put the ball in the box. Could you believe it? Could anyone believe that?”
Merson responded by saying: “No, no. In 95 minutes, they haven’t broken them down, so why play short?”
Stelling added: “It was just staggering. Absolutely staggering.”
It seems as though Villa’s summer signing has found a lucky charm in Arsenal because that’s three goals in two games against the North London outfit.
What’s more worrying for Arsenal is that they are tenth in the Premier League table and four points behind eighth-placed Villa having played two games extra.
European football is the aim for Mikel Arteta, but it seems as though that is going to be a tough ask this season.
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