"SIMPLY PUT, VILLA HAVE BECOME A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TEAM SINCE FOOTBALL RETURNED IN JUNE AFTER THREE MONTHS IN LOCKDOWN."
THE GOOD
he standards of modern day defending have legitimately been called into question during this remarkably high-scoring start to the Premier League season, but the improvements made at certain clubs shouldn’t go unnoticed. In a very short space of time, Mikel Arteta has turned an Arsenal side previously viewed as flaky and short of mental toughness into one that is highly organised and tactically astute. Even more impressive, however, is the transformation Dean Smith has overseen at Aston Villa at both ends of the pitch. Simply
