A 3-0 defeat at hands of Aston Villa on Sunday has left Arsenal reeling at 11th in the Premier League table with 12 points from eight games. The defeat, however, wasn't the only highlight from the game at the Emirates as their captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set an unwanted league record of not attempting a single shot on goal for the first time in his Arsenal career.
For someone who has scored 22 goals in each of his last two Premier League season, it was another alarming performance as he has scored a mere two goals in eight league games this campaign. Against Villa though, he certainly wasn't the only one at fault as the team, combined, could only manage two shots on target.
0 - This was the first time Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has played 90 minutes in a Premier League home game without attempting a shot - indeed, Aubameyang was one of only three outfield players who didn't record an attempt for Arsenal in this game. Vanished. pic.twitter.com/QxTXTAYdQb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 8, 2020
Villa took the lead through Bukayo Saka's own goal own in the 25th minute and it the second half was all about Arsenal's frailty, to say the least. New signing Ollie Watkins wreaked havoc by scoring a brace to pile further misery on Arsenal's campaign. Manager Mikel Arteta was certainly left fuming, but took full responsibility of his team's performance.
"First of all congratulations to Aston Villa for the way they played and the victory," he told Sky Sports.
"After that, we performed below our standards and I have to say it's the first time I've seen us play and we weren't a team.
"I take full responsibility. We didn't start well enough, we got away with VAR for an offside situation but we lost all the races, the duels and we were sloppy on the ball.
"When we created chances we didn't hit the target. It's a really bad combination.
"We left spaces and on the counter we looked really vulnerable.
"I take full responsibility. I am responsible to make the team perform on the pitch and today we were not a team and it is my job. It is why I am standing here."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Andy Rain
