There is something Arsenal can’t afford to lose

The Arsenal players and staff barely have time to lick the wounds of their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool before they’re making their way up the M1 to face Aston Villa.

Playing on Wednesday and then again on the weekend is something that this team and this fanbase wants. Midweek European nights followed by weekend Premier League fixtures is the schedule this club had been accustomed to for decades.

This arrangement, however, is entirely unwarranted. Nothing was forcing this game to be the earliest kick-off on Saturday. For the sake of player welfare this match could, and should, have been played as the evening Saturday game, or on the Sunday. There is no need other than to try and drum up more excitement for the remaining ten matches by handing Arsenal a tougher kick-off time.

Sadly, ranting won’t change anything. This Arsenal team, one likely to be exactly the same lineup that started the two matches played over the past five days, will have their work cut out.

There is something Arsenal can’t afford to lose when Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Aston Villa for Saturday’s Premier League clash

Anytime you face the Villans away from home there is the potential for a slip-up, even if historically it’s been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal: the Gunners have lost their last two at Villa Park, having gone unbeaten in the 17 league games there previously.

Adding spice to the occasion is the minimal turnover time before making the journey to the midlands, and that Steven Gerrard’s side have come into some decent form and have multiple individuals finding their strides.

Falling to defeat against Liverpool was palatable, because Arsenal had performed so well in the 11 matches prior that they’ve woven themselves a comfortable cushion to fall back in in case they left empty handed.

While they can afford to lose one game, they can’t afford to lose momentum. That’s invaluable. It’s crucial that Mikel Arteta’s side head back to the capital on Saturday with three points in the bag.

The momentum isn’t just for them, either. Manchester United and Tottenham – the latter of whom have a painfully easy run-in to complete the season – will see consecutive dropped points as they boost they sorely need to go gung ho for the final fixtures.

In order to jolt their confidence they need something to cling onto and Arsenal losing any momentum ahead of an international break is precisely that. Another extremely tough month of fixtures await in April where there is another three games inside a week period, while seven of the remaining 11 matches are away from the comfort of the Emirates Stadium.

This is the biggest game of the season now for Arsenal. There is no greater test of character and resolve than immediately bouncing back from an energy sapping defeat at home against a top side. It requires focus and maturity to dispel that game from the mind and just 60 hours later go and secure a result on the road.

Dropping points would see the mood and the narrative turn on a sixpence. However the game is won, it needs to be won. That defeat to Liverpool can’t be allowed to turn into anything other than a spirited display against a world class side.