Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Irish villain]

Just looking at it again, I think Guzan should have done better for their second. He either should have came for the corner or reacted more quickly to the header. He seems to have reacted very late and made a very awkward attempt to make a save.

I guess he has done ok since Given's injury so won't go too hard on him.

[Chris Smith]

Half way through the first half we harried them and forced the ball to be passed back and everyone around me stood to applaud the effort. That's all it takes lads, we know we're not world beaters but a bit of honest endeavour will always be appreciated. That said, I thought we were the better side last night, some really encouraging performances. N'Zogbia was very good and I have to mention Albrighton, I've been critical of him and argued against his inclusion as he'd been so poor but firstly at Bolton and again last night he was back to his old self, well done son.

AM has made the point a number of times that work on the training pitch wasn't being translated on match days, last night it was.

[Hookeysmith]

Easily the best perfromance from us this season

Passion, pride, pace, skill, closing down, excitment - every thing but the win our game deserved.

Thought everyone was 9/10 except Gabby who lost his man badly for the 2nd goal.

Special mention to Dunne, Warnock (crossing aside) Charlie and mark

[KevinGage]

Hopefully it's the sign on better things to come.

As Brian Green says, it's still a defeat. And we don't want to start claiming defeats as some sort of moral victory. We can leave that to the likes of the B-lose and the Olbiyun.

But that level of performance will be enough to beat most sides in this division. They've set the bar now, we know what they're capable of. Lets hope it's not a one off.  We also didn't look particularly weaker at the back without Collins (we didn't look more secure either). Food for thought for Big Eck.

[Concrete John]

We lost and once again showed we can't defend set pieces well enough, but aside from that they put in a great performance and you can only take positives from it.

1.  Cuellar was great and it looks like him and Dunne is a better blend.
2.  They look hungry and were sharop into the tackle.
3.  The passing was not only good, but purposeful with us looking to get our forward players possession in dangerous areas.
4.  CNZ had his best game for us.
5.  Ireland did well before his injury and then Bannan was involved in everything.

Arsenal were lucky and they know they were lucky!

If I was Mcleish I'd get them in this morning and start by showing the DVD of that game.  They'd then be told that that is how they play from now on with no exceptions.  Any dip in performance will result in the offending party being dropped, fined, publicly flogged and then sent to East Kilbride on loan.

[JUAN PABLO]

I thought Cuellar really steadied the back line and he's fater than Collins.

I dont think he looks fat . I wish I had his physique.

[Simon Ward]

Gutted we didn't get anything from it.

[JUAN PABLO]

I was gutted after the Liverpool , manure and Spurzz games , no bloody effort from anyone.

I felt alot better last night.

[Villafirst]

I can't believe i'm gonna say this but N'zogbia should've gone down, it would've been a blatant penalty, fair play for his honesty though.

I agree, most of the top teams do exactly that and win a fair share of points doing it. We're too naive for our own good at times

[JUAN PABLO]

fook off richard Keys , trying to say the 20,000 prem goal should go to Aguero too .    you cov twat .

[PaulTheVillan]

fook off richard Keys , trying to say the 20,000 prem goal should go to Aguero too .    you cov twat .

Ignore the prick.

[DB]

fook off richard Keys , trying to say the 20,000 prem goal should go to Aguero too .    you cov twat .

Why is he saying that?
Just saw Marc on SSN and the £20k is going to Acorns, good lad.

[saunders_heroes]

Anyone heard about how bad Ireland's injury is? Played his best game for us last night. It would be a shame if he was out for an extended period.

[Chris Smith]

Hopefully it's the sign on better things to come.

As Brian Green says, it's still a defeat. And we don't want to start claiming defeats as some sort of moral victory. We can leave that to the likes of the B-lose and the Olbiyun.

But that level of performance will be enough to beat most sides in this division. They've set the bar now, we know what they're capable of. Lets hope it's not a one off.  We also didn't look particularly weaker at the back without Collins (we didn't look more secure either). Food for thought for Big Eck.

To be fair a constant theme on here has been about not expecting to be at the level of the top 6 but to at least put up a fight and play some entreating football. We got both last night so it seems slightly churlish to then go back to saying the result is all important.

[PeterWithe]

I've been saying its not that we have been losing but the manner of it, so credit where its due, this loss was much more palatable.