Ben White and Kai Havertz faced criticism from former Arsenal player Paul Merson regarding their performance during Arsenal’s recent 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa.
Arsenal suffered a 2-0 loss to Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
In a bid to reclaim the top position in the league, the north London team aimed for a victory.
Despite their efforts, Aston Villa took the lead in the 84th minute by converting a Lucas Digne cross into a goal.
Shortly after, Ollie Watkins further extended Villa’s lead in the 87th minute by scoring a goal after a remarkable run from his own half, chipping the ball past goalkeeper David Raya.
Merson criticized Havertz for failing to prevent Digne’s crucial cross that led to the first goal.
Moreover, he expressed disappointment in White for not following through with a tackle earlier in the second half.
During his analysis on Sky Sports, Merson emphasized the importance of preventing such chances, especially in the pursuit of winning the league.
He commented, “It’s essential to stop that cross! There was a moment when Ben White evaded a tackle instead of committing to it.
“It’s imperative to act on these opportunities. The chances to win the league are limited, and seizing them requires going the extra mile to prevent such occurrences.
“By refraining from that extra effort, you risk squandering all the hard work put in during the season. It’s a lack of commitment.”