Jamie Redknapp fears are regretting letting Granit Xhaka go in the after watching the Gunners slide to defeat at .
John McGinn’s early goal proved decisive as ’s ever improving side recorded a club record 15th straight win at Villa Park.
The home side rode their luck on occasion with Arsenal missing several golden opportunities to draw themselves levels, while Kai Havertz appeared to have equalised in injury time only for goal to be ruled out for handball.
With Liverpool having won in fortuitous circumstances earlier in the day, Arsenal relinquished top spot having been condemned to what was only their second league defeat of the season.
Despite their lofty position, Redknapp believes Mikel Arteta’s men are some way off replicating the form they showed last season when they raced out of the traps and appeared capable of pipping Manchester City to the title.
Central to their struggles this term, according to Redknapp, is the absence of Xhaka who was allowed to depart for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
‘I think if you were to assess Arsenal right now this season the facts are there, they are seven points down on where they were last year and seven goals less,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports.
‘The performances haven’t been quite as fluid there was so much to enjoy. The back four hasn’t changed in midfield with Havertz is he an upgrade on Xhaka? Right now I would say no.
‘I think right now certainly (they are missing Xhaka), he had that quality, he gave you that bit of positional sense. He’d get it onto his left foot, he’d create balls into Jesus he just gives you that bit of guile something they’re not possessing.
‘Havertz has had a good little run this last few weeks. They’ not quite got that balance they had last year where they would dominate teams for 90 minutes.’
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