Premier League news: Arsenal without Xhaka worse than last year, Villans must improve away

Arsenal have been complaining about the refereeing over the past week. One shot on target in 100 minutes is hard to argue with though. In the 17th installment of our weekly column breaking down the interesting facts from the world of English football, we’ll be looking at Aston Villa.

Rice is great, but Xhaka is missing

Arsenal have lost again, specifically their ninth point in 11 rounds, for a 0-1 defeat at Newcastle. Although the goal fell after a poor refereeing decision, last season the Gunners lost only four points in the opening 16 rounds.

Much is being made of what Arsenal are missing compared to last year. None of the key players left, or rather the offensive ones. Granit Xhaka has been adequately replaced by Declan Rice, who may be the Gunners’ best player this season.

However, Thomas Partey is also missing. Kai Havertz and Jorginho are certainly not at his level yet. With Xhaka gone are the shots from distance and most importantly an experienced leader who could break a game emotionally. Arsenal couldn’t do that at Newcastle or in the draw with Fulham, for example.

After three months, it can be objectively admitted that Arsenal are worse than last year, even in the language of numbers. It has created just under 14 scoring chances. This is the fifth worst number in the league, while the league newcomer Luton, for example, is better.

Villans, what’s with the exits?

Aston Villa are putting in the most balanced and perhaps the most impressive performances of the trio of dark horses (Newcastle and Brighton). Unai Emery impresses at home, while away his charges lose unexpectedly often.

Nottingham can do well at home, but the quality was on the Villans side. Same in the Wolves game. Emery’s players, however, only got a point from those games and, for example, got a five at Newcastle. Despite these results they are still only two points outside the top 4.

The biggest paradox is that away, Aston Villa typologically have the most potential to be dangerous. Their breakaways are statistically the best in the league, the play of Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey is built on them. The room for improvement is huge.

Source: Premier League