Arsenal v Aston Villa All-in-one Thread (Match #272) (Post-match #993)

[danlanza]

Why do people keep suggesting that the second wasn't a penalty? Getting a stud on the ball, doesn't make it a fair challenge.

The tackle was from the side, not from behind and he took the ball first. Why is that a foul ?

Because he brought Gabby down whilst going towards goal. It's a penalty according to the laws of the game, just as the Roger Johnson was at Villa Park.

Definatly a penalty and the keeper should have been red carded. Evening Eastie btw. Welcome back. Eastie returns, we beat Arse 3-1, coincidence, i think not. Welcome back pal. UTV.

[avfcpg]

Seen them given, seen them not given...he gave it, deal with it Arsenal. Keeper was lucky to be on the pitch after the first one anyway.

It seems that, today at least, we had some real grit. A bit of bite, a bit of agression and fitness levels look really high. Fully deserved win and whilst not getting carried away, we will shock a few more teams this season.

[paul_e]

Seen them given, seen them not given...he gave it, deal with it Arsenal. Keeper was lucky to be on the pitch after the first one anyway.

It seems that, today at least, we had some real grit. A bit of bite, a bit of agression and fitness levels look really high. Fully deserved win and whilst not getting carried away, we will shock a few more teams this season.

I agree on the 2nd pen, you see those given and turned down, I think complaining atbout the ref on that one is strange.  The red card was the harsher one as I'm not convinced either of the challenges were bad enough to be yellows.  The 2nd in particular was just very clumsy.  The counter to that being that he gave a few other yellows for similarly clumsy but otherwise not to dangerous challenges.

[peter w]

Like this comment:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/17/arsenal-aston-villa-premier-league

I am very, very, very happy right now. Very happy indeed
Did the ref have a bit of a mare? Yep. That booking for Luna was silly
Did we score more goals than Arsenal? Yep. Two more, if my sums are correct
Do I love Christian Benteke a lot and make him my FF captain to boot? Yep and Yep
Cautious optimism replaced by Saturday happy. I like football

[joe_c]

A substantial amount of drink has been and continues be taken on my part but that was great. Life affirmingly great. I'm very happy.

[paulcomben]

Obviously that NW team are 1st on MOTD. Root for BT Sport in case it makes the Beeb reform.

[jeowje]

Just waiting for motd highlights to make it appear a total smash and grab...

[Reuben]

Sorry, the Beeb repeating this bogus stat is annoying me :

It was Arsenal's first home defeat on the season's opening day in 20 years and only Villa's third victory in 28 trips to the Gunners.

Not the bit about them losing for the first time since fat Mickey Quinn bullied them in 1993 but that fucking stat about us hardly winning there. Can a Statto please give the true amount of victories we've had there since the mid-80's cos it must be about double that amount.

Edit - I count seven on Soccerbase (plus the League Cup win in '93, three weeks after winning there in the league). Shoddy research, exaggerating a poor stat to make us look much worse. Have a fookin' word!

Exaggerating stats is bollocks and annoying.  Today I heard something like Swansea haven't beaten Man United in 30 years.  I don't know the exact number but I imagine they have only played each other about six times in that period?

[peter w]

I'd hate to be an Arsenal fan.  In order to improve they need to seemingly get rid of the thing that has made them great anyway.

He's coming on like a slightly more exotic O'Neill.

Spunking money on average players, paying them well above their value in wages and having no tactical plan b.

I agree with this.  I don't think he knows how to improve them from here.  The team he had which had some success was built around a strong defense, to defensive midfielders and a genius or 2 up front.  He can't replicate it because he doesn't seem to want to associate with the type of football they played with Vieria and Petit in there and he hasn't found anyone close to Henry or Bergkamp except for Van Persie but he was injured so often whilst he was there they never got enough out of him.

I've said to the Arsenal fan at work (who I watched the game with) I really wouldn't be surprised if Wenger leaves during the season.  They've let him stay there 2-3 years too long already and everyone needs to move on now.

I've said it on here before but Ithink wenger is, and was, a lucky manager. When he came to Arsenal her had the right contacts in French football and was able to recruit some of the bestfootballers France has ever produced. since that team broke up he hasn't been able replicate it with players of the same quality to replace the henrys, Pires, Viera, Petit alongside the great back 5 and Bergkamp, that he inherited. They've got enough money to spend on players thatwill keep them at the level that they are, but they're flat lining and have been for a few years now. Wenger should either pull a rabbit out of a hat during the transfer window, or go before he completely loses the fans.

[rob_bridge]

Can somebody more creative than me write some lyrics to Jazyee's 99 Problems (99 minutes and lost 3-1) aimed at Wenger?
Thanks in advance.

[LeeB]

Gabby clapping Koscielny off.

Ha ha ha!

[rob_bridge]

I mean to ask how to Walcott play?

I think he is on almost on a par with Mark Walters myself. Just faster, less consistent, more media friendly and with less of a footballing brain. So not as good.

[peter w]

I'll forgive the McLeish/Strachan confusion from that link above:

It was a fantastic performance and result for your young team.
After a year of settling in and ridding the club of Strachan's negativity, I can see good things ahead for Villa,( the 2nd biggest club in the Midlands next to Leicester no less).
Sarcasm aside, 2 more years, good luck, a bit of investment and you'll be back in Europe.

Where you belong.

[Lizz]

Bloody hell. I'm actually liking Shearer's comments on MOTD.

[LeeB]

Why do people keep suggesting that the second wasn't a penalty? Getting a stud on the ball, doesn't make it a fair challenge.

Quite, and what those incapable of processing such thoughts consistently struggle with.

So I expect the expert panel on Match of the Day will unanimously damn the referee for giving it.

Fuck me, I take it back.