Jamie Redknapp says Arsenal were handed a big let-off after Aston Villa ‘blew an incredible opportunity’ to apply some ‘real pressure’ by falling to defeat at home to Everton.
Thierno Barry kept his cool to beat Emiliano Martinez just before the hour-mark and the Frenchman’s exquisite dinked finish proved the difference, with hosts Villa offering up next to nothing in response.
Villa’s woes were compounded by a worrying-looking injury to John McGinn, who was forced off with a suspected knee problem just 18 minutes into Sunday’s gritty Premier League contest.
Unai Emery cut a frustrated figure on the touchline at Villa Park, with his side missing the chance to go second in the table following Manchester City’s shock 2-0 loss at Manchester United a day earlier.
It means Arsenal finish the weekend with an imperious seven-point advantage over their two title rivals, with Pep Guardiola’s City sitting above third-placed Villa on goal difference after 22 games.
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Villa will hope to bounce back away to Newcastle next weekend having dropped points in three of their last four matches in the English top flight.
‘They couldn’t have started any worse, obviously Everton hit the post in the first few minutes and you thought that might wake them up, get them going,’ Redknapp said of Villa’s limp performance on Sky Sports.
‘Then you lose John McGinn and they have blown an incredible opportunity to put some real pressure on Arsenal.
‘They didn’t have the capabilities in any area today and the individuals that can bail them out and they weren’t at their best.
‘It was a really, really tough afternoon for Aston Villa, they just never got it going at all.
‘Maybe that’s a little bit of pressure, they obviously didn’t have some of their players.’
Redknapp was left scratching his head over Villa’s ‘really strange’ decision to allow Donyell Malen to complete a loan move to Roma in the week.
‘Malen leaving in midweek felt a really strange decision when you look at that substitutes bench, they didn’t have those options today,’ he added.
‘So yeah, a really tough one. but I’d also credit David Moyes. He knows what he’s doing that guy. He knows how to set a team up to be difficult to beat and that’s their best result of the season.’
The former Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder picked out James Garner, Harrison Armstrong and Jack Grealish for special praise after Everton’s ‘unbelievable’ win.
‘A magnificent performance from Moyes’ team,’ he went on.
‘James Garner in midfield, I thought Harrison Armstrong was exceptional, Jack Grealish kept good width and he always gives you quality on the ball.
‘An unbelievable result for them but for Aston Villa, that will be so tough to take.’
Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle, Garner hailed Everton’s ‘amazing’ display away from home against a ‘very good’ Villa side.
‘They’re a very good team and they have a lot of brilliant players. The lads grinded it out today. We got the chance and we took it,’ he said.
‘We tried to nullify what they’re good at which is playing through the middle. We tried to block of the passing lanes and force it wide. We waited for our moment.
‘We were in a sticky patch. We had to get ourselves out of this. To win away from home is hopefully the start of it.
‘I think it was an amazing performance from the lads.’
Will Arsenal end their long wait for the title this season?
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Yes
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No
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