Aston Villa v Arsenal Match Thread

[Rudy65]

Ref has made some strange decisions, the nakamba booking was totally unnecessary, the handball against Traore was completely wrong and he seems to think pushes in the back are completely fair game.

Marvellous lost the ball in the first place. He takes too long to control the ball

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Great to be 1-0 up but Barkley needs subbing now. Ok when he has the ball but he doesn't have it enough. Useless when off the ball. No tackling, pressing or interceptions. You don't win the ball by running parallel to the player with the ball or standing idly on the edge of the "D"
Jack almost anonymous. Traore doing more on the right flank.
The arses are a bunch of cheating, whinging cnuts who appear to have the ear of a weak ref.

[RamboandBruno]

Never normally come on here during the match, now I know why!! The idea that we’re hanging on in that first half is laughable. I think we haven’t been great and need to play with far more tempo. Barclay has tried hard to find space and create, but him and jack need to work on their combination play like earlier in the season.
Arsenal have had a lot of the ball but have mostly been shite. I suppose they can’t be any worse so we do need to step it up 2nd half.

[paul_e]

Ref has made some strange decisions, the nakamba booking was totally unnecessary, the handball against Traore was completely wrong and he seems to think pushes in the back are completely fair game.

Marvellous lost the ball in the first place. He takes too long to control the ball

Doesn't mean it was a yellow card though.

[Small Rodent]

So so first half. Nothing more to report.

[andyh]

We are being overrun in midfield.
I’d bring on Dougie for Barkley and shore up that gaping hole in the middle.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Like to see Jack switch flanks sometimes.Bit too telegraphed on the left

[Monty]

We've not been able to escape their press very much, and are seriously lacking Doug's calm judgement and technique in deep midfield, but Arsenal really haven't done much and we should be 2-0 up no doubts.

One point - does Cash have any assists this season? His crosses always look like they should be threatening but they never seem to actually threaten.

[Rudy65]

Ref has made some strange decisions, the nakamba booking was totally unnecessary, the handball against Traore was completely wrong and he seems to think pushes in the back are completely fair game.

Marvellous lost the ball in the first place. He takes too long to control the ball

Doesn't mean it was a yellow card though.

He takes his ankle. In this day and age it’s often a yellow

[olaftab]

Is Barkley playing?

[Goldie.7]

One point - does Cash have any assists this season? His crosses always look like they should be threatening but they never seem to actually threaten.

All I see him doing is passing the ball back towards our keeper.

[The Edge]

Barkley has been neat and tidy for the most part but the game is largely passing him by.

He has got to be more of a presence, needs to be much more assertive.

I'm a big fan of Barkley but this is a fair assessment.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think we've done okay. Need to create better balls through to Ollie and Jack needs to stop marking himself out the game by coming inside a bit more. Fantastic save from Martinez but other than that he really hasn't been that troubled. More than anything we need to stay focused, we started well and are making it difficult for Arsenal but need to get a second. Traore has had a good half by his standards, Matty takes no prisoners and the defence look pretty solid overall. Fresh legs in the midfield would help.

[SoccerHQ]

It looked worse at full speed. Plus Saka screaming the whole stadium down.

He's a good player but this is about a tenth of the treatment Jack gets most games if he think we're targeting him.

[Allan C]

Never normally come on here during the match, now I know why!! The idea that we’re hanging on in that first half is laughable. I think we haven’t been great and need to play with far more tempo. Barclay has tried hard to find space and create, but him and jack need to work on their combination play like earlier in the season.
Arsenal have had a lot of the ball but have mostly been shite. I suppose they can’t be any worse so we do need to step it up 2nd half.

At last  common sense  once again Barkley is the blame for all things I think he’s done ok and Arsenal have had 1 shot and that from a free kick