Pain in the Arsenal
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Aston Villa vs Arsenal: 3 ways to beat Gerrard’s side

By Ross Kennerley

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 05: Ashley Young of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park on March 5, 2022 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

3. Isolate Bukayo Saka on Ashley Young

Ashley Young has still got it. Despite being 36 years old he has the engine and the work rate needed at this level, although in terms of technical ability and mobility it is evident that he isn’t what he once was.

Lucas Digne is due to miss out on Saturday’s game with a hamstring problem that forced him off of their last game just ten minutes in, and having let Matt Targett leave for Newcastle in the winter, their only remaining left-back is Young.

The former Inter utility man has featured in around six or seven different positions this season, and unless Gerrard opts for a reshuffle with a back three, he will be the man to target in defence.

Pinning Cash back is to Arsenal’s benefit, just as getting Saka isolated on Young can be the best route to goal. Even if Young was a spring chicken with his best years ahead of him you would still back Saka to beat him a handful of times, and with his one-on-one defending deteriorating over time there is real scope for Arsenal to attack those zones.

Next. Predicted lineup vs Aston Villa. dark

Add to that Martin Odegaard’s uncompromising brilliance in the right half-space and Young could be in for a torrid afternoon.

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