Analysis — A Mar(villa)ous Performance
Sunday, 08/11/2020 — Arsenal 0–3 Aston Villa
After narrowly escaping relegation at the end of the 2019–20 season, Villa have had an amazing start to the current season. An unexpected, but enjoyable, giant-killing of Liverpool at Villa Park was followed in a few weeks by a wonderful team performance at the Emirates. Provided they keep their starters fit, Villa will be one of the teams to watch this season.
Villa’s top players — Grealish, Barkley and Watkins — shone on a night where Arsenal’s defensive lapses were once again exposed. They are definitely a tighter defensive unit under Arteta (much less to be said about their attacking threat) but they are still lacking the players that can help them challenge nearer the top of the table.
The two goals Watkins scored in this game show a high-level of technical ability and individual tactics that the Villa players showed in taking advantage of some defensive issues. Here’s a brief look at the main aspects.
Goal 1
(1) Arsenal clear their lines but are slow to come out leaving Douglas Luiz. Luiz does well to scan the scene ahead of him and receives in a side-on position, ready to play forward.
(2) Grealish holds his position out wide, attracting the winger. Barkley makes a great curved blindside run behind the defense. Luiz has sees his intentions and what follows is a routine that they probably practiced on the training ground in the week leading up to this game.
Elneny is unfortunately too far from Luiz to have a meaningful impact, leaving the midfielder in acres of space to pick his pass.
(3) Luiz floats a perfectly weighted ball in Barkley’s path. There is still a bit to be done here with the defenders rushing into the penalty area but this where the technical ability and game-intelligence of Barkley and Watkins shine through.
Watkins is already on the move, going first towards the near post. The defenders are not tight enough to him, allowing him enough space to maneuver. Using his hands Watkins indicates his intentions to attack the near post to Gabriel who duly follows.
Barkley keeps his eyes on the ball and cushions a brilliant first-time pass using his side-foot right in the middle of the 6yd box for Watkins.
(4) Watkins makes a 2nd run away from Gabriel towards the middle of the goal to finish one of the easiest chances that he can get. He uses his strength to keep Tierney behind him while tapping in the header. While the finish is straightforward, it comes about due to the positioning and movement of Watkins and brilliant execution on the pass by Barkley. Making it look easy.
Goal 2
(1) This goal starts with Grealish carrying the ball about 70 yards from deep in his own half to this position. He shows great dribbling ability, varying his touches based on the space in front of him — bigger touches at the start to more controlled touches in the position above.
Barkley makes his run towards the far post with a view to stretching the defense. Watkins uses his intelligence to make a blindside run behind Rob Holding, who is perhaps a yard or two wider than he should be.
The gap between the CBs is enough for Watkins to make his run.
(2) The situation unfolds here as Holding steps up to defend Grealish, exposing the space behind him. Grealish, for his part, delays and attracts the players towards him before releasing Watkins.
Gabriel makes the situation worse by not covering the gap. He’s seen Barkley’s run and is distracted by his positioning. This is perhaps the wrong decision as Bellerin has managed to close down the passing lane to Barkley already. (You can see Holding and Gabriel argue about this in the aftermath to the goal)
(3) Watkins still has a lot to do, finishing from a fairly wide angle, but he calmly slots the ball low and hard past Leno for a near-post finish.
