BIRMINGHAM, England – Every manager will tell you a title race is a marathon, not a sprint. On Saturday, Arsenal appeared to hit the wall. A last-minute defeat was on the horizon for a team that seemed out of gas, ultimately bowing down to Aston Villa with a score of 2-1, marking their first loss since August.

While the situation appears grim, Arsenal remains atop the table, maintaining a cushion over their rivals. Aston Villa stands as a respectable competitor but needs to prove their consistency to truly challenge Arsenal.

In the second half, Arsenal, guided by Leandro Trossard’s performance off the bench, attempted to regain control before fatigue struck. As the Christmas period looms, the Gunners must dig deep to navigate their challenging fixture list and recover swiftly from injuries.

Arsenal’s defensive issues were emphasized during their game against Aston Villa, where lapses resulted in easily conceded goals. As Mikel Arteta noted, the team’s latest performance revealed a stark contrast to their earlier solidity in defense, particularly with key players like Saliba absent.

Both sides had their chances, but Arsenal’s inability to adapt under pressure left them vulnerable at crucial moments. Continuous individual errors highlighted their exhaustion, and it’s evident that the busy schedule is taking its toll.

Arteta will be strategizing on how to best utilize tactics and rotations in the upcoming matches, particularly with important fixtures in store, including a Champions League tie against Club Brugge. Getting through this period successfully is pivotal for Arsenal to stabilize their season.