Calls mount for Arsenal summer arrival to be handed consistent playing time after Aston Villa win
Calls for one of the summer batch of arrivals at Arsenal to be afforded a more regular chance to impress have mounted on Friday night, on the back of the club’s impressive downing of Aston Villa.
Auba amongst the goals
Mikel Arteta led his side back into action a short time ago.
After requiring a last-gasp equaliser to snatch a point at home to Crystal Palace earlier this week, the Gunners welcomed Aston Villa to north London, eyeing both an improved performance, and result.
And, when all was said and done at the Emirates, to say that both were ultimately forthcoming would be something of an understatement.
An all-action display, during which visitors Villa were restricted to little more than half chances, saw Arsenal eventually emerge on the right side of a 3-1 scoreline.
Thomas Partey opened the game’s scoring midway through the first-half, glancing home his first-ever goal for the club from an Emile Smith Rowe corner:
Partey time at the Emirates stadium 🥳
Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League #ARSAVL 📺 pic.twitter.com/hz3cGKSSPi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2021
And it was two on the stroke of the interval, as the in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slotted home on the rebound, after seeing his initial spot-kick effort kept out by Emi Martinez.
Then, ten minutes into the 2nd-half, the hosts killed off any remaining hope of a Villa comeback.
A scintillating breakaway saw Aubameyang this time turn provider, to send the impressive Smith Rowe through for a deflected finish off the inside of the near post:
Is that game over? Arsenal lead 3-0 🎯
Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League #ARSAVL 📺 pic.twitter.com/aX604jkjv9
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2021
Aston Villa did manage to pull one back late in proceedings, but, upon the final whistle sounding in the capital, it proved little more than a consolation.
Tavares praise
In turn, on the back of the action coming to a close at the Emirates, it has come as little surprise to see a whole host of Arsenal stars singled out for praise.
Outside of the goalscorers on the night, the likes of Ben White, Sambi Lokonga and Alexandre Lacazette all impressed, amid a complete team performance.
It is the name of one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad, however, which has truly taken centre stage online.
The player in question? Nuno Tavares.
Brilliant performance from Tavares 👏 pic.twitter.com/F80nBbuaMg
— Av (@aviv_lavi) October 22, 2021
Left-back Tavares was handed a first Premier League start versus Villa, owing to an injury picked up by Kieran Tierney this week.
And to say that the summer arrival in north London went on to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to him would be selling the Portuguese short.
Tavares shone along Arsenal’s left flank throughout, linking up with Emile Smith Rowe to devastating effect, and looking an attacking threat throughout.
In turn, with the aforementioned Tierney having endured a less than impressive start to the season of his own, the Gunners faithful have flooded to social media on Friday night, to call for boss Arteta to hand Tavares a more regular starting berth moving forward:
Tavares deserves a run in the team after tonight. If there’s anyone who’ll react well to having a bit of competition / a fire lit under their arse, then it’s KT
— FPL_David (@david_fpl) October 22, 2021
Tavares should start over Tierney next week. He’s got that nuclear athleticism
— Dimitri Tsafendas FC (@ShnepelleShow) October 22, 2021
Tavares is really making a good case for himself to start again
— Chris (@Chris_AFCFan) October 22, 2021
Tavares has been immense on the left flank. Running up and down, been constant threat. Even if Tierney was fit, I wanted Tavares to start over him.
— Goku💫 (@H__xxiv) October 22, 2021
Actually love Tavares. Hope we see him more.
— Alcázar ⚔️ (@AFC_Konrad) October 22, 2021
Nuno Tavares deserves to play more. #ARSAVL
— Joe (@Joe_MD_) October 22, 2021
Nuno Tavares has been really impressive down that left hand side. Tierney’s absence wasn’t felt at all.
— Tweezy (@ItsOluwaTweezy) October 22, 2021
I like Tieney but i think Tavares deserve to start the next game #ARSAVL
— Deji (@Intotoontop) October 22, 2021
Nuno Tavares deserves a run in the team after that first half performance. Although Tierney is much better on the ball, Tavares is a lot more powerful and aggressive going forward.
— LT9 (@eladnyt9) October 22, 2021
I don’t know about you but I feel Tavares has been sensational for us today. Defended well, very brave and fast. Filled up Tierney’s absence perfectly. Need to give him more games.
— Abubakar Hussein (@awesomehabibi) October 22, 2021
Even if Tierney is fully fit, Tavares deserves to start the next game.
— Serbian Gooner 🦖 🇷🇸 (@gooner_serbian) October 22, 2021
Arsenal cult hero backed to forgo Newcastle move and replace Edu
Olivier Giroud names best player he lined up alongside at Arsenal & Chelsea
Arsenal betting odds, next game:
Leicester vs Arsenal odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Arsenal’s latest videos
Preparing for Aston Villa | Behind the scenes at a very wet Arsenal training centre
Take a look inside training as the boys warm-up with the rondo before preparing…
2021-10-21T14:27:03Z
ACCESS ALL AREAS | Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (2-2) | Late goal, Vieira returns & special guests
Head behind the scenes as we took on Crystal Palace in the Premier League.…
2021-10-20T13:00:14Z
Arsenal latest news
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 8 | 13 | 19 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 8 | 16 | 18 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 8 | 13 | 17 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 | 3 | 15 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | -3 | 15 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 8 | 5 | 14 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| 11 | Leicester City | 8 | -1 | 11 |
| 12 | Arsenal FC | 8 | -5 | 11 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 8 | -3 | 8 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 8 | -4 | 7 |
| 16 | Watford FC | 8 | -8 | 7 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 8 | -8 | 6 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 8 | -8 | 3 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 8 | -9 | 3 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 8 | -14 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 4 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 4 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 4 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 4 |
| Veltman, Joel | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 4 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 3 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 3 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 3 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 3 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 0 | 3 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 3 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Struijk, Pascal | Leeds United | 1 | 2 |
| McArthur, James | Crystal Palace | 0 | 3 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 2 |
| Jimenez, Raul | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| Manquillo, Javi | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 2 |
| Bailey, Leon | Aston Villa | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Azpilicueta, Cesar | Chelsea FC | 2 |
