When Arsenal traipsed off the pitch, deflated and defeated, after the final whistle at Villa Park on Tuesday evening, they did so as the first side to have failed to register a shot on target against Aston Villa all season. It is a statistic which brings their creative shortcomings into sharp focus. The victories over Liverpool and Manchester City prior to that game showed their progress under Mikel Arteta. Rarely in recent memory have Arsenal defended so resolutely. Rarely have they taken their chances so clinically. But when it comes to breaking down the teams below them, the teams they are expected to beat, there is much room for improvement. A lack of creativity has been an issue...
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