In the first half of the match between Aston Villa and Arsenal on Saturday, 6 December 2025, the Gunners went into the break trailing 1–0. Aston Villa took the lead through Matty Cash in the 36th minute, finishing off a move that exposed Arsenal’s defensive shape. Arsenal had a goal ruled out for offside and created a few half-chances, but overall their attacking play lacked cohesion and purpose.
After the opening 45 minutes, it was clear that several tactical decisions from Mikel Arteta contributed to Arsenal’s weak first-half display.
One of the biggest issues was deploying Eberechi Eze on the left wing. This position limited his influence because Eze naturally performs better as an attacking midfielder, where he can operate centrally, link up play, and dictate tempo. Playing him wide pushed him away from the areas where he is most dangerous. Instead of drifting between lines and driving at defenders through the middle, he was often isolated near the flank, reducing Arsenal’s ability to create structured attacks.
Another questionable decision was starting Martin Ødegaard despite his recent drop in form and overall lack of sharpness. The match demanded energy, intensity, and quick reactions between the lines, but Ødegaard struggled to impose himself early. Beginning him on the bench and introducing him later might have given Arsenal more control when the game opened up. Instead, starting him contributed to slow buildup play, predictable passing patterns, and a lack of creativity in the final third.
These choices combined to weaken Arsenal’s rhythm. The midfield lacked invention, the left side lacked penetration, and the team struggled to connect their attacks. As a result, Villa capitalized on Arsenal’s disjointed structure and took a deserved lead into halftime.
By Newshub