Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson slammed Ben White and Kai Havertz over their performances for Arsenal in their 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa.

Arsenal was beaten 2-0 by Villa at the Emirates on Sunday.

The north London side knew that a win would take them back to the top of the table.

However, that was not the case as Aston Villa took the lead in the 84th minute, getting on the end of a Lucas Digne cross.

Ollie Watkins then doubled their lead in the 87th minute after running from inside his half and chipping the ball past David Raya in goal.

Merson slammed Havertz for not stopping Digne’s cross for the first goal.

He also berated White for pulling out of a tackle earlier in the second half.

He said on Sky Sports, “You’ve got to stop that cross! There was a time when Ben White jumped out of a tackle before coming off.

“You’ve got to stop these things. These chances come around not too many chances in a lifetime of winning the league and you’ve got to get out there and stop that.

“Ben White is jumping out of a tackle, he’s a defender jumping out. You don’t get these chances. You go home tonight and think that’s gone.

“For me it’s gone. You’ve worked that hard for 32 games to go that extra yard, just one yard to stop that cross. It’s lazy.

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