Arsenal v Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[exigo]

And that would have all happened in front of the away end. We'd still be in there celebrating it now.

[West Derby Villan]

In the instant Watkins puts away his header, we were outnumbered 9-2 in their box. Yet from the moment the ball left Luiz' boot, did anyone doubt the outcome?

I didn't appreciate the skill in that goal at the time but, bloody hell, that was such a good goal.  The pass from Luiz, the volleyed cross from Barkley and the bravery from Watkins.  Wow!

Yeah absolutely fantastic technical goal.

[Monty]

Watched the highlights again just now, we're so fucking good when we're on form.

[olaftab]

Pepe and Partey represent around £120 million in transfer fees alone and both are wank.

I am suprised they took Partey off in the first half he looked ok , elneny looked ropey

He was injured in that collision with Martinez apparently.

So Martinez tried to help his former team.

[Dave]

It’s by no means a moan but, if Sako doesn’t stretch and put that Targett cross into his own net for the first goal,  Trezeguet isn’t scoring that.
Trez is stumbling as the ball comes across and is pretty much on his knees as Sako slices it into the net.

Of course he scores that. The ball has basically been tackled into the net.

He stumbles and ends up on his knees because he's desperately trying to get around Saka's outstretched leg.

If his leg isn't there to put the ball in anyway, Trezeguet would have been able to just stroll up in his slippers and knock it in.

[Flamingo Lane]

All three goals were simply terrific.  For the first, well done especially to Targett for the way he joined up with Grealish and Barkley to set up the goal; and for the second, what a great pass, cross and timing from Watkins to get in there for the header.  My favourite though was the third, for the sense of adventure, and speed of thought and movement from the moment the ball was in Martinez's hands.  And the way Grealish simply bounced the Arsenal defender out of the way as he dribbled through at such pace was a joy.

[olaftab]

A comment in the Guardian:
The pivotal period of this game, you felt, came around an hour in. Arsenal were knocking at the door in search of an equaliser. Crosses came and went. Chances whistled past either post. For a while, it felt like Aston Villa might have to settle in for a long and painful rearguard. At which point, they seemed to come to a crucial realisation. They were better than Arsenal. And so in a rampant, crushing climax, they set about proving it.

Bit of a selective quote there. What it says in the paper:

The pivotal period of this game, you felt, came around an hour in. Arsenal were knocking on the door in search of an equaliser. Chances whistled past either post. For a while, it felt like Aston Villa might have to settle in for a long and painful rearguard action. At which point, Dean Smith’s team seemed to come to a crucial collective realisation: they were better than Arsenal. Not better organised, or better drilled, but better in stark and absolute terms. And so in a crushing climax, they set about proving it.

The journo has obviously edited it. My post was straight forward cut and paste at that time last night.

[dave shelley]

It’s by no means a moan but, if Sako doesn’t stretch and put that Targett cross into his own net for the first goal,  Trezeguet isn’t scoring that.
Trez is stumbling as the ball comes across and is pretty much on his knees as Sako slices it into the net.

Of course he scores that. The ball has basically been tackled into the net.

He stumbles and ends up on his knees because he's desperately trying to get around Saka's outstretched leg.

If his leg isn't there to put the ball in anyway, Trezeguet would have been able to just stroll up in his slippers and knock it in.

Agreed, had it gone through to Trezeguet and he'd missed it, Ronnie Rosenthal's effort would never be shown again.

[PeterWithesShin]

MOTD2 analysis

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/54868137

[dicedlam]

*Edit PWS post above

[Smirker]

I thought we were excellent.

[dicedlam]

I think someone else alluded to it earlier that it would have been great if MOTD 2 finished the program to the 'Stayin Alive' song.

[rob_bridge]

I thought we were excellent.

I am glad you are not Paul Lambert. I am glad he is not Villa manager

[Villa Lew]

Captain Jack was absolutely brilliant, there's not a better midfielder in the country at the moment, he totally dominated Arsenal, they just couldn't handle him. Not one weak link last night, I've given Targett some stick in the past, but top drawer yesterday. Must give a mention to Konsa, he consistently performs at the highest level match after match.

[manic-road]

I watched the game last night and thought all 11 were excellent, had a look at the match thread on here to see comments like McGinn is playing abysmally, Matty Targett is struggling to kick the ball today, Cash is a worry. Just goes to show the many differnet views on a game of football.