As soon as Arsenal fans believe they’ve turned a corner, they end up being brought back down to earth with a bump.The Gunners had won their three previous fixtures - against Dundalk, Manchester United and Molde - prior to Sunday night’s home clash against Aston Villa.While supporters were under no illusions that Villa would be tough opponents - after all, Dean Smith’s side thrashed Liverpool 7-2 just last month - none of them would have predicted an embarrassing 3-0 defeat.Bakayo Saka’s own goal in the 25th minute put Villa 1-0 up at the Emirates Stadium.Ollie Watkins then struck twice in three second-half minutes to seal an impressive victory for Dean Smith’s side.
"It's up there with the Liverpool one if not better because we looked so composed and played with such an intensity with and without the ball,” Smith told reporters, per the Birmingham Mail, after the match.“We were a threat when we went forward and worked extremely hard to restrict them to play around us rather than through us.”This was a superb team performance from Villa, but Jack Grealish’s display was particularly impressive.Arsenal simply couldn’t handle the 25-year-old Villa captain, who provided a brilliant assist for Watkins’ second goal of the night.
After receiving the ball from goalkeeper Emi Martinez, Grealish ran the length of the pitch before slotting in his teammate with an inch-perfect pass to score.The pace and power that Grealish showed to make Villa’s third goal was exceptional. He really is the complete package for an attacking wide-forward.One particular camera angle, from behind the goal, shows how the England international destroyed opposition full-back Hector Bellerin.Grealish outsprinted the £28.8 million-rated Spaniard, who is widely regarded as one of the fastest players in the Premier League, before sending him flying with a strong barge while winning at full speed.Watch it here…
And here’s some of the best reaction to the clip from fans…
Grealish is a unit but the video is still a little embarrassing for Bellerin.
Many of the Premier League’s top clubs - perhaps even Arsenal themselves - must regret not pushing harder to sign the Villa star in the summer.