大象传媒

2013/14: Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa

An air of frustration hung over the Emirates Stadium on the first day of the 13/14 season. Hoping to capitalise on managerial changes at three the top clubs, including Sir Alex Ferguson, fans wanted their team to enter the transfer market. However, as they lined up against Aston Villa, Yaya Sanogo was the only addition to the squad.

On the pitch, it was business as usual to begin with as Olivier Giroud tapped home in the opening 10 minutes.
Villa showed no fear, and buoyed by an excellent Gabriel Agbonlahor, Villa took the lead through two penalties scored by Christian Benteke.

With Arsenal chasing for an equaliser, Villa launched a classic counter attack with minutes remaining 鈥� debutant Antonio Luna had moved from his usual left-back role to be the furthest man forward on the pitch, slotting home past Wojciech Szczesny.

The frustration turned to anger from the home crowd, booing their team off the pitch at the final whistle after their first opening day home defeat in 20 years.

Opposition manager Paul Lambert recalls: 鈥淭he criticism at Arsene was very severe, I think it was too much considering what he鈥檇 done for the club. You do get upsets on the first day of the season鈥�.

Arsene and his team recovered spectacularly, going on an impressive run, qualifying for the Champions League, winning their first trophy in nine years in the FA Cup and even splashing out in the transfer market. Mesut Ozil arrived for 拢42.3m days after the Villa defeat.

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