Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[citizenDJ]

I think long term tricky, creative options with goals in them either side of Benteke will be bought to compete with Gabby and Weiman. Options up front are thin if you think of it as a 3 up front.

I know it seems unlikely right now, but it is possible that N'Zogbia could find his form for us and fill that role, too.

Well, you never know!

[PeterWithesShin]

I think long term tricky, creative options with goals in them either side of Benteke will be bought to compete with Gabby and Weiman. Options up front are thin if you think of it as a 3 up front.

Not much in the way of rotation options. Apart from Holmann for Weimann it's thinner than a thin thing from Thinnerville.

[PeterWithesShin]

I think long term tricky, creative options with goals in them either side of Benteke will be bought to compete with Gabby and Weiman. Options up front are thin if you think of it as a 3 up front.

I know it seems unlikely right now, but it is possible that N'Zogbia could find his form for us and fill that role, too.

Well, you never know!

Work rate would be the issue though, never mind form. The system works pretty well because of the shifts Weimann and Gabby put in. I've seen little to suggest Zog would put the same kind of shit in week in week out.

[ktvillan]

I'd probably have taken a point before the game but I thought Arsenal were under par - maybe we made them look that way.  We did well to keep it tight with a very inexperienced defence  after Vlaar went off and could have nicked it with a bit of luck.   

I think Lambert got it wrong leaving Ireland out against a team whose defending has been far from solid.  It showed with us nowhere near creative enough in the final third.  I thought KEA was hopeless, way too slow, a yard off the pace, missed the ball completely a few times.  I have to say I thought Gabby was poor,  he worked hard but a lot of moves broke down when he came on the ball.  Excellent cameo by Holman.

[Lizz]

We're last on MOTD tonight, I don't actually mind.

[Archie]

Hard fought point and  a rare clean sheet.
Very good approach to the game and good performance by Lowton and Clark, whereas  in the midfield Bannan and Westwood are improving.
The only thinh that I haven't understood is the sense of KEA, that clearly is not able to play football, in the starting XI. Holman is not Maradona but is much better than KEA.

[myf]

thought we played some lovely football at times, just need to be more ruthless in last third. thought benteke played well particularly holding it up. banan some lovely balls as well

[citizenDJ]

I've seen little to suggest Zog would put the same kind of shit in week in week out.

Oh, I've seen plenty of evidence of that! ;-)

[PeterWithesShin]

I've seen little to suggest Zog would put the same kind of shit in week in week out.

Oh, I've seen plenty of evidence of that! ;-)

Ha! What an appropriate typo.

[ozzjim]

Nzog of Wigan days would fit perfectly. The Villa version I live in hope.

[hilts_coolerking]

To be honest I'd totally forgotten about Zog. 

[PeterWithesShin]

To be honest I'd totally forgotten about Zog. 

So had I when I was thinking of different options for the front 3. I wondered if we could recall Fonz but completely forgot that we still had Zog. Probably sums up his Villa career so far.

[dutchvilla]

It was solid and a good point, but the lack of flair was typified by the corners and free kicks lofted up for Benteke. The one innovative free kick nearly brought a goal from the shot by Vlaar (and I suppose there was one in the second half when Clark peeled away) - they need to try different things in these sorts of situation since they don't have natural flair otherwise (especially when Ireland is not playing).

[PeterWithesShin]

Most important thing is to make sure we don't waste this point by messing up against Reading.

[Steve R]

....  I've seen little to suggest Zog would put the same kind of shit in week in week out.

Typo of the week.

We  were much better today. There was a distinct change of emphasis from the last two games. Instead of retreating back behind the ball we got in their faces. Against arguably the best midfield we have faced in the the three games from hell we didn't really look like conceding.

KEA was part and parcel of this, despite the panning some have been giving him. He works hard and is effective, but his problem seems to be that when he gets the ball he seems to be pre-occupied with playing it the way the is facing, which often was not the best option to take. Whether that is confidence, him still getting used to the higher pace of the PL or just the way he plays it's hard to say.

I like the look of Westwood and Lowton. Holman runs with the ball like a bulldozer with a pissed driver, but was desperately unlucky with his shot.

One point is pretty good from this fixture, if either team deserved all three it was us.