Arsenal had one inexcusable performance against Aston Villa

In a game where the headlines were rightly taken by Bukayo Saka and followed by another inexplicably negative reaction to the resulting celebrations with the Arsenal fans, there wasn’t much to be unhappy about.

This is a squad as united as we’ve seen in years. Bernd Leno filled in for the injured Aaron Ramsdale and kept a clean sheet in his first league outing since August, while Emile Smith Rowe put in a fine shift for 90 minutes despite not being fully match fit.

Everyone will have to contribute. In the previous home win over Wolves it was Nicolas Pepe who stepped up to the plate with an outstanding cameo, grabbing a goal and a (semi)assist when his side needed him most.

Someone else who was impressive off the bench in that game was Eddie Nketiah, a pleasantly surprising display from him as he too chipped in at a key moment.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1505184924810321926

Eddie Nketiah’s performance for Arsenal against Aston Villa was inexcusable and if that persists he should not play again this season

Sustaining that level of engagement is absolutely paramount. With this small 20-man squad, one that contains only two strikers, all parts will need to come together to form a working machine.

Which is why the latest outing from Nketiah left a sour taste in the mouth. At a time when the game began shifting to all hands to the pump with the famous 5-3-2 shape, it was on Nketiah’s shoulders to be intense off the ball, close down the man in possession and keep energy levels high at the front of the pitch.

It’s the minimum requirement when you play for his football team. You have to run; you have to show intensity; you have to be engaged and play with your heart on your sleeve.

Nketiah didn’t do any of that. He came on to the pitch wearing clogs. His performance was inexcusable.

You have to hope that Mikel Arteta got stuck into him in that dressing room, or at least back on the training ground. He was jogging around the pitch, his touch was woeful, he looked like his mind was already on his mini-break away while international football is on, and he barely broke a sweat.

Nicolas Pepe didn’t cover himself in glory, but at least he ran. While you can make some peace with someone being rubbish and not knowing where to position themselves in a defensive block, you can’t accept a lack of care. It is very clear that his inevitable move away in the summer is already playing on his mind.

However, when it filters into 15-minute cameos off the bench with your side trying to hold on to crucial points to secure Champions League football there is a discussion that needs to be held. Nothing other than total commitment in every game will suffice for Arsenal between now and the end of the season.

If they finish in the Premier League top four with their already fragile depth not even getting out of first gear it will be a tremendous achievement. Arsenal have to demand more from Nketiah in those situations. If he doesn’t respond, he doesn’t play.