Aston Villa v Arsenal Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Good luck Delf coming into this.

[VillaAlways]

I didn't expect us to win with the injuries, but I expected to try. Contrast this performance to the one against Man Utd.

Gabby and Albrighton were our best players against Manu there absent today

[eastie]

The team picks itself today really but GED needs to really pull out all the stops in January and bring players in or we are going to struggle- keep the faith, I'm sure he will improve the squad .

[PaulWinch again]

I didn't expect us to win with the injuries, but I expected to try. Contrast this performance to the one against Man Utd.

Gabby and Albrighton were our best players against Manu there absent today

I agree, but the level of effort is different to.

[brontebilly]

I don't think it is a question of not trying lads. Our team is just really poor and has been set up badly.  Pires and Carew can't run. Bannan is lost frankly. They are as far as our box before pressure is applied. Both our full backs are being destroyed too so it is free crossing season too. To be honest if Arsenal had a better striker than Chamakh then we could be at least four down by half time.

Look at the state our bench too. I had a look on Betfair this morning we were 25/1 to go down. I thought about it but just couldn't. To be honest Reo Coker would improve us as would a fit Gabby but all the others are squad players really. There really is a huge job on at Villa Park.

Arsenal players laughing coming onto the pitch. This is bad.

[jonzy85]

Come on Fonz...once and for all announce you have arrived!

[Martyn Smith]

Good luck Delf coming into this.

He looked like he was praying just now...

[Fergal]

To be honest this first half has been an embarrassment. Carew and Pires are finished. It is so easy for the Arsenal. Warnock is finished too. Collins is having a nightmare as today as is Luke Young who Arshavin has made a fool of. Downing on the right is a joke. Bannan has looked a youth player unfortunately too.

Fonz for Pires at half time. Arshavin and Nasri gave been superb I must say. 0-2 flatters us I must say.

I guess people will blame Dunne though.

More likely blame MON.

This is as bad as gets. Houllier has brought us backwards. Im not one for hyperbole but we could easily be dragged into a relegation battle. Especially as we most likely arent gonna be splashing the cash in January.

I blame MoN.  He fucked the squad up then fucked off.  He had took us as far as he could and for that I am grateful, but he should have buggered off months before and give a new manager time to sort it.

[ROBBO]

You expect us to be matching a side like Arsenal with the injuries we're carrying get real. We won't see much improvement until January and to those having a go at GH  i would say wait until he has a full squad and a chance to buy in January before slagging him off.

[VillaAlways]

I didn't expect us to win with the injuries, but I expected to try. Contrast this performance to the one against Man Utd.

Gabby and Albrighton were our best players against Manu there absent today

I agree, but the level of effort is different to.

agreed

[Irish villain]

What we need now is Santa Claus to crash into the Trinity. Or has somebody done that one?

made me smile!

[Stu]

I think all the talk of relegation is a bit stupid tbh.
Todays team is not the 'full monty', and we're playing one of the best teams in Europe, let alone the league. Lack of effort can not be excused but the lack of a win against a team like this does not mean everything is doomed. A win would be nice, but can hardly be expected.
Cam down I say... I do feel bad for those that have paid to watch though.

Just because we're not doing well against Arsenal doesn't mean that we shouldn't be worried. Looking at our next few fixtures, I can't see where the next win is coming from. All of a sudden the QF against the Blues looks less important.

[Martyn Smith]

Well, we've started lively enough...terrible ball from Carew just now though. He seems mentally to have left already...

[PaulWinch again]

You expect us to be matching a side like Arsenal with the injuries we're carrying get real. We won't see much improvement until January and to those having a go at GH  i would say wait until he has a full squad and a chance to buy in January before slagging him off.

I agree about not slagging off Houllier and I'll still support him. However we need to show a fuck load more effort than we have.

[Holtenderinthesky]

You expect us to be matching a side like Arsenal with the injuries we're carrying get real. We won't see much improvement until January and to those having a go at GH  i would say wait until he has a full squad and a chance to buy in January before slagging him off.

Balls.  The way he has set his team up today is all wrong.  Arsenal are playing a high line and so Delf would have been a much better option than Carew and his laziness.  We can't get behind their back 4 with JC.  There are those that would say Ash and SD need to swap wings too.