Hislop Slams Arsenal Star After Villa Defeat at Villa Park

Shaka Hislop singles out Eberechi Eze after the dramatic Arsenal Villa defeat exposes key weaknesses in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal unbeaten streak ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the 95th minute, with Emiliano Buendía scoring the game-winning goal at Villa Park. Consequently, the loss tightened the Premier League title race, with Manchester City now just two points behind and Villa climbing to second place.

Villa opened the scoring in the 36th minute when Matty Cash hammered in a loose ball after a deflected cross fell into his path. Although Arsenal replied strongly early in the second half — with Leandro Trossard equalising after Emiliano Martínez pushed out Bukayo Saka’s driven cross — the Gunners could not survive the late chaos in their box.

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The match delivered constant end-to-end intensity, yet Arsenal’s defensive fragility ultimately proved decisive.

On ESPN FC, Shaka Hislop delivered a blunt verdict on Arsenal’s attacking display. He claimed that summer signing Eberechi Eze was “non-existent” throughout the first half, forcing Arteta to make early tactical adjustments.

Hislop argued that Arsenal relied too heavily on Bukayo Saka’s flank, which created an imbalance and limited creativity. He added that Arsenal improved after halftime substitutions but lacked control in key moments.

Eze’s Difficult Afternoon Explained

Eze struggled to influence play, saw a goal ruled out for offside, and often found himself outworked by Villa’s midfield trio led by Youri Tielemans. The intensity, physicality, and tactical sharpness of Villa’s engine room consistently disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm.

As a result, Hislop’s criticism highlighted a wider concern: Arsenal’s new signings still face an adaptation curve in high-pressure fixtures.

Defensive injuries forced Arteta to deploy a makeshift centre-back pairing of Piero Hincapié and Jurriën Timber — a duo that lacked the stability normally provided by William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Cristhian Mosquera.

Moreover, Arsenal’s weaknesses became evident as Declan Rice showed visible fatigue, while Ben White struggled to cope with Villa’s pace late in the match. The team also failed to maintain structure during transitions, and these issues combined to contribute heavily to the final outcome.

What the Result Means for the Title Race

The defeat leaves Arsenal vulnerable, with their lead evaporating and momentum shifting toward both Villa and Manchester City. Pundits Frank Leboeuf and Don Hutchison echoed Hislop’s concerns, emphasising that Villa’s mentality and tactical clarity under Unai Emery proved the difference.

Arsenal must now regroup quickly ahead of a Champions League clash against Club Brugge and a crucial Premier League home fixture against Wolves.

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