Arsenal feel effects of defensive injuries, Liverpool rue Konat??s mistakes and Brentford struggle on the road


When the team sheets landed at Villa Park, Arsenal?s matchday squad again appeared imperious. Their bench included a ?64m striker in Viktor Gy?keres, a trio of tricky wingers in Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli and arguably England?s most exciting ****agers in Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. But Arsenal arrived top-heavy, the only centre-back among the substitutes the 16-year-old Marli Salmon. By the time Emiliano Buend?a clinched victory for Aston Villa with almost the final kick, it was clear Arsenal lacked the defensive solidity behind their pace-setting start; this defeat was only the fourth time since the start of 2022-23 that Mikel Arteta?s side began a league game without Gabriel Magalh?es or William Saliba ? and it showed. Cristhian Mosquera, potentially sidelined until the new year, was also absent. The good news for all parties ? which probably extends to second-placed Manchester City ? is that Arsenal and Villa will duke it out again on 30 December in the reverse fixture. Ben Fisher
Continue reading...

More...