Arsenal vs Aston Villa - Review

Although the Gunners were approaching the game with only 11 fit players, they were the bookies favourites to take all three points. A Sagna, Mertersacker, Koscielny and Gibbs all in what seemed a solid defensive unit. Ramsey, Wilshere and Rosicky formed the midfield triangle whilst Giroud headed the attack with Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain on either wing.

  by  Ronnie Macdonald 

Arsenal had the perfect start to the 13/14 campaign with Giroud continuing his pre-season form by tucking home an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross in the sixth minute. 

From there, things got worse. Szczesny bundled Agbonglahor to the ground to give away a penalty in the 18th minute. Christian Benteke's penalty was palmed away by Szczesny but the young Belgian was quick to react and finish the job with a cool header past the scrabbling goalkeeper.

A dubious penalty call handed Villa the lead in the 60th minute, with Benteke netting his second of the match. Koscielny got the ball in what seemed a good, fair challenge on Agbonglahor but the referee thought otherwise. Anthony Taylor ignored his assistant, who was standing in a better position to observe the incident to award the penalty, which Benteke finished calmly.

Things got from bad to worse for Koscielny as he earned himself a red card for a clumsy challenge on Weimann minutes after the second penalty.

A late counter-attacking goal from debutante Antonio Luna sealed the match for the visitors to cap a woeful, and worrying, display from the gunners.

Please comment, share and subscribe to posts, thank you.