Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Clampy]

Regarding Bent, now that we know he's fit and ready to play, the next few team selections will be interesting.

[silhillvilla]

The Lambert / Bent thing appears to be getting personal in my view.
Not sure I agree with what's going on but as ever we don't know the full story here.

[MonsXI]

Regarding Bent, now that we know he's fit and ready to play, the next few team selections will be interesting.

Is it true that if he plays 2 more games we owe Scunderland another £2m?

[claret and blue blood]

Said yesterday in the relegation thread that we needed to grow some balls as a team and as a club when it came to these sort of games against the 'big ' four. I think that is exactly what that young team did today typified by Westwood who looked the best midfieder on the pitch from both sides. Us fans did the same as the match progressed getting behind (encouraged by )the team and finally winning the battle serenaded by 'you don't know what you're doing' sung by the Arsenal fans to Wenger. Bit mystified by the exclusion of Bent , it's a big gamble on Lamberts part which if he loses we could  pay with our status as a Premier league club but I think it's down to the way he wants us to play at the moment, for what it's worth I think Bent will play his part and won't be sold.
Some great performances today, Bannan Lowton and Stevens who has faced Valencia Silva Oxlade Chamberlain and Arshavin in quick succesion, he's pushed them all back down the pitch -great ! 

[UK Redsox]

I hope that whoever decided that Bannan was MOTM was having a laugh or had been drinking all day.

He was close to being the worst player on the pitch today. Bottling tackles in a way that made Downing look like Norman Hunter and generally managing to stay at least five yards away from having to engage with an opposition player.

[claret and blue blood]

I hope that whoever decided that Bannan was MOTM was having a laugh or had been drinking all day.

He was close to being the worst player on the pitch today. Bottling tackles in a way that made Downing look like Norman Hunter and generally managing to stay at least five yards away from having to engage with an opposition player.

What game did you watch mate ?

[silhillvilla]

Regarding Bent, now that we know he's fit and ready to play, the next few team selections will be interesting.

Is it true that if he plays 2 more games we owe Scunderland another £2m?

Where did you hear that ?

[Oscar Arce]

Westwood is beginning to look like a proper player to me

[hilts_coolerking]

I hope that whoever decided that Bannan was MOTM was having a laugh or had been drinking all day.

He was close to being the worst player on the pitch today. Bottling tackles in a way that made Downing look like Norman Hunter and generally managing to stay at least five yards away from having to engage with an opposition player.

I thought he was really good today.  His delivery from set pieces has improved, his work rate has improved, his defensive game has improved and he doesn't spray the ball around for its own sake any more.  He put in one terrific block to stop a goalbound shot at one point (late on?  can't quite remember).  A much better player than he was 12 months ago.

[SashasGrandad]

Regarding Bent, now that we know he's fit and ready to play, the next few team selections will be interesting.

Is it true that if he plays 2 more games we owe Scunderland another £2m?

How ironic that might be his severance pay (so we pay him again) - you sometimes want to weep.

[ozzjim]

Thought Bannan and Westwood were very good in fairness!

Oh and Clark is growing as a centre half each week in my view, really coming on.

Re Bent, if the Lambert response was straight up to Kendrick, maybe the togetherness of the group of kids is more important than what Bent brings to Lambert. To go from captain, to left out completely when fit speaks volumes.

[SoccerHQ]

I am a critic of Bannan but he hit some lovely crossfield balls today and his workrate was exceptional.

Fancied us for a point and it's certainly sometime to build on. I was worried the defence would fall apart when Concrete succumbed but Clark and Lowton stood up well. First time I've seen Stevens play and he looked pretty comfortable tbh.

Fair to say tuesday is a very big game now. Hopefully Vlaar is fit but I worry a bit if he's out as Jason Roberts might not be the world's greatest forward but he'll be niggly and back into our defenders all night long if we're not careful so I'd probably start Baker.

If Wigan can score 3 against them we certainly can.

[brian green]

Just back from the game.   Thoroughly good team performance which gives genuine hope for the future.   Thought Bannan was outstanding.  Looks destined to become a hate figure like Gabby in some quarters.   KEA is my biggest worry but a game well worth the long journey in foul conditions.   Well done lads.

[Risso]

0-0 to Arsenal is a decent result, but with another non-scoring game, we're going to need Bent sooner rather than later, so I hope it's not a case of his bridges being completely burned.

[N'ZMAV]

Westwood looks tidy, doesn't he?