‘Why they got beaten’… TalkSPORT pundit now blames below-par Arsenal duo for defeat against Aston Villa

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Pundit Tony Cascarino has now shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s disappointing loss away to Aston Villa yesterday, their second defeat of the season.

Cascarino was speaking on talkSPORT this morning and thought Mikel Arteta must have been so frustrated with how the game unfolded.

The pundit thought Arsenal never got going in the match, and thought that was mainly down to two players.

Cascarino commented that Arsenal needed both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to be on top of their game against a side as strong as Villa, something that wasn’t the case.

He said: “Arsenal could have got an equaliser, there were lots of incidents in the game. 

“I’m sure Arteta, stuck in the stands, was furious with the way the game was panning out.

“Arsenal never quite got going, they just couldn’t quite get going, the two wide boys who are so important to them, Saka and Martinelli, you know they’re so important to have a really good go at teams.

“They did all right, but not to what we know they’re capable of. I thought that ultimately was why they got beaten in the end.”

Tony Cascarino thought Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli needed to do more for Arsenal vs Villa

Surprisingly, the form of Arsenal’s two wingers has often been called into question this season.

Although Saka has often played brilliantly, many are pedaling the idea that he’s been having an underwhelming season.

And in a frustrating afternoon for The Gunners, Saka still did seem most likely to make the difference.

The winger was on the cusp of Villa’s high-line a few times, and admittedly may have done better judging his run on one occasion.

However, Cascarino did think his overall performance was a costly one for Arsenal against Villa.

Mikel Arteta’s, or perhaps Albert Stuivenberg’s decision to sub Gabriel Martinelli late on was a bit of a controversial one.

The wingers’ pace looked key to unlocking Villa, but Leandro Trossard was ultimately preferred.

That being said, it was a different attacker altogether that was concerning Ian Wright following the game. 

A tough night for Arsenal, but one they will quickly move on from.