How Riccardo Calafiori provided Arsenal’s spark in statement win at Aston Villa
A summer when Arsenal targeted Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez seems set to end without them luring a Galactico of a forward but Mikel Arteta may have other ways of adding a new dimension to his attack. Perhaps typically, given the Arsenal manager’s obsession with accumulating defenders, it involves a man whose day job is at the back.
But Riccardo Calafiori got their season off to a flying start with a goal after 23 seconds in the Community Shield. And, when Arsenal seemed short of incision at Villa Park, it was their charismatic, compelling left-back who provided the element of unpredictability required. By surging forward to supply Bukayo Saka with a simple finish, Calafiori maintained Arsenal’s 100 percent start to the campaign. If part of the test is to improve upon last year, in one respect they already have: defeated at Villa Park in December, they were victorious now.
“That image when the players were on the floor, totally gutted, it was a really difficult one to take and we used that,” said Arteta. This was cathartic and came from the collective. “It was a squad victory,” Arteta said.
It was forged more by perspiration than inspiration. If Arteta had seemed to take the handbrake off in eviscerating first Manchester City in Cardiff and then Coventry at home, this was a night when it was back on. Arsenal can win in different ways, but many of them involve a clean sheet and Aston Villa finished without a shot on target. The travelling Gunners’ eventual chorus of “1-0 to the champions” was a retort to their Villa counterparts chanting that they would never be able to call themselves champions of Europe.
Maybe, maybe not. But Saka’s second goal in as many league games showed Arsenal already had the potential to kick on; if Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard can stay fit, each could offer more goals than last year. And while they are yet to land a left winger, Gabriel Martinelli’s departure could afford Eberechi Eze the chance for more minutes on the flank.
He came on at half-time for Christos Tzolis who, after a fine start to his Arsenal career, was booked then hooked. Eze offered an indication of what he can offer to help set up the goal, releasing the underlapping Calafiori, who centred for Saka. “Ebs comes on and makes the difference to win the game,” said Arteta.
It was a personal comeback, with Eze culpable for Matty Cash’s goal at Villa Park last year, and a swift response to a collective disappointment. Five minutes earlier, Arsenal were initially awarded a penalty when Ian Maatsen’s nudge in the back sent Saka flying. A VAR review later and the offence was adjudged just outside the box. Odegaard dinked the resulting free kick just wide.
Until then, the goalmouth action consisted of Villa rattling the frame. Emi Buendia, the late match-winner last season, was almost an early scorer, his ferocious, first-time shot thudding into the Arsenal bar.
Buendia had begun Villa’s Premier League campaign as a false nine at Brighton. They had a genuine striker here, the £47.5m Nicolas Jackson parachuted in for a debut after his move from Chelsea. He showed flashes of pace without getting a chance.
Perhaps the more auspicious bow came at the other end of the pitch, even if the statistics will not reflect it. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made fine saves from Declan Rice’s header and Havertz’s shot, when the German was clear on goal; he was not to know that, with the flag raised for different reasons, neither would have counted. The Japan international cut an authoritative figure and looked a worthy successor to the sold Emi Martinez.
The most notable bow, however, came in the closing stages. It was certainly the most audible introduction, with boos apparent when Ezri Konsa was on the ball. A stalwart of Villa’s best team of the 21st century had decamped to London amid the exodus. The fixture list may have been unkind to him, giving him an immediate return to Villa. Even with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber injured, Arteta had enough defenders to start without the £51m man.
He also benefited from having players already accustomed to lining up alongside each other. This was change against continuity, with the upheaval at Villa versus Arsenal’s summer of stability and solidity. The stands at Villa Park contained Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ibrahim Mbaye, perhaps the last arrivals in a recruitment drive that has cost a quarter of a billion pounds, all funded by sales.
“We are happy how we are closing the window,” said Unai Emery. “We are not regretting anything.” His Villa were far better than they were against Brighton, though that is not saying much. They made that rout look like an aberration. “We performed like we planned and we competed like we planned,” added Emery. “The result, of course, is painful.”
He is reconstructing his side. Villa Park can whip up an atmosphere for a night game even when the North Stand is a building site but Arsenal are sufficiently battle-hardened they could cope with it. This was not a statement performance but, in its own way, it may prove a statement result. “To lose in Villa Park is not normal,” said Emery. It may have been a good time to face a team in transition but, thanks to Calafiori and Saka, Arsenal ensured it was as they pocketed the points.
