Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea suffered a night of sheer humiliation at Villa Park, and much of the blame is being laid at the feet of defender Malo Gusto following a catastrophic individual display.
The £19 million signing was handed a rare start but endured a torrid evening, culminating in a disastrous error that effectively ended the contest. With the score at 2-0, Gusto's sloppy pass was easily intercepted by Aston Villa's John McGinn, who coolly slotted past Djordje Petrovic to put the game beyond doubt.
Fans and pundits were quick to single out the French full-back for criticism, with his performance labelled a 'nightmare' and 'error-prone'. The mistake was a gift Unai Emery's clinical side gratefully accepted, and they ruthlessly piled on the misery with two more goals.
The heavy 5-0 defeat is a major setback for Pochettino, whose team selection is now under the microscope. Gusto, often a deputy for the injury-prone Reece James, failed to seize his opportunity, putting his role as a reliable understudy in serious doubt.
This result leaves Chelsea's European ambitions in tatters and will undoubtedly prompt a brutal inquest into the squad's defensive frailties ahead of their crucial London derby against rivals Tottenham.
