Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal Post Match Thread

[LeeB]

The Spanish Pulis can fuck off the straw clutching twat. Think about your own tactics that created fuck all in 90 minutes, think about you taking your best player and shunting them to full back so you could add your 8th number 10 into the mix...and still create fuck all.

Not a foul by Konsa, Saka makes first contact. Its never a penalty, so go fuck yourself you bitter little twat.

Yeah, fuck off Lego head.

[brontebilly]

The Spanish Pulis can fuck off the straw clutching twat. Think about your own tactics that created fuck all in 90 minutes, think about you taking your best player and shunting them to full back so you could add your 8th number 10 into the mix...and still create fuck all.

Not a foul by Konsa, Saka makes first contact. Its never a penalty, so go fuck yourself you bitter little twat.

Not seen the interview.  I take it Arteta has been clutching at straws?

They were really mugged by Chelsea for Willian. Looks a different player at Arsenal, one planning his retirement... Auba maybe the same, handed me a new contract last summer, did he even get a kick when he came on?

They are improving though. A footballer appears to be emerging in Pepe

[The Edge]

Second best for periods of the game, but battled to get a good win.  Thought Martinez looked back to his assured best and the back four defended really well.  Ollie Watkins really scrapped it out up front for us and was a bit unlucky to not add another goal. 

Thought Jack looked a bit tired for the first time this season, but we’ve got a week until the next game now so hopefully can get some rest after a tough couple of weeks.

Agree on Jack. He has put 110% into every game this season and is showing signs of a burnout. It's probably a good time to give him a rest as we're definitely not going down and top 4 is a bit too soon. We could afford to give him a rest and bring him back in with all guns blazing for the last quarter of the season where he can cement his England place and player of the season trophy.

[four fornicholl]

The Spanish Pulis can fuck off the straw clutching twat. Think about your own tactics that created fuck all in 90 minutes, think about you taking your best player and shunting them to full back so you could add your 8th number 10 into the mix...and still create fuck all.

Not a foul by Konsa, Saka makes first contact. Its never a penalty, so go fuck yourself you bitter little twat.

Yeah, fuck off Lego head.

That made me laugh,

[Steve67]

Pepe was good for them but I thought Matty Cash was excellent, as were the rest of the defenders and the keeper.  Our midfield went missing a bit at times but it was a cracking result, resolute and we have moved forward so much since last season.  Delighted with the result as it gives us a bit of space between us and the teams below us.  Mings and Watkins can scrap it out for MOTM, both excellent today.

[Lastfootstamper]

There build up play was better but we had the only worthwhile chances.

Pass, pass, pass, bore.

Another Wenger 2005 onward mk2. They have too many of the same players, as good as they are, Pepe (not so good 75m😂) Smith Rowe and Sakha who I do rate highly. No real physical steel and sometimes you need route 1

It's not so much 'route 1', although use of an early long pass is a very useful arrow in our quiver, it's that they don't try to take opponents out of the game with the ball. Saka was the only one trying to run at us. We're too well organised* to simply pass through. Compare to us, with Traore, Grealish, Watkins, Barkley, Ramsey, even our fullbacks, all constantly looking to beat players while carrying the ball.

*mostly.

[Nev]

I don't know about the players but I'm glad of the midweek break, the stress is killing me and it's doing up the wilton with all the pacing up and down.

[Allan C]

I think the defending was outstanding today, as good as I can remember for many a season. Mings just edges it for me but Cash was brilliant. Not just the back four though, everyone put a shift in to keep us ahead. We’d have lost that 1-3 last season but not now.

[baddowvillans]

Re the Arteta "penalty" claim, I cant think of reason at all why Martinez would be pulling Lacazettes shirt unless he was already being fouled.  BT were very selective with the video stills which even then didn't look all that.  If Rio thinks that a pen he's a prick who needs another drug test!

[Footy-Vill]

Martinez 8
Unbelievable leap for the save for xhaka free kick. Really good action replay of it from goal cam on bt sport had to applaud the slow motion save .Another clean sheet . Solid steady and was so pleased for him back to improving his standards after midweek errors.
Made the goal with wonderful distribution to Traore
Also a great save with feet when shot deflected off Konsa, 

Cash 7.5
Solid and disciplined up against Arsenal threat on left side the whole. Few too many pass backs again however he was excellent in the defending and made tackles and good moves forward. Dealt well with Pepe , Sakha, Willian. Well played.

Konsa 6.5
Would be solid 7 but loose with some poor positioning and  tackling and was lucky maybe another ref would have had either a straight red or when he made a couple more fouls a second yellow as was booked initially for foul on Saka. Solid enough against poor Arnseal strikers. Did what was required and recovered from head injury well and stayed defensively sound.

Mings 8.5
Absolute beast and for me again best of the central pair . Wonderful positioning,  interception and blocking Composed and solid on ball . Dealt with set pieces. Would have had 9 but Mings gave too many long inaccurate passes. Something that needs improving. Lead the defence well and player of match. Martin Keown too singled him out as outstanding man of match.

Targett 7.5
Wonderful recovery tackle on odegaard when Arsenal attacker looked clean through on left. Did so well he even got the goal kick with the sliding challenge. Has been excellent this season back to good standards.

Nakamba 7
Played the role well if disappointingly he was booked for cynical foul on Sakha. Steady on the ball made godo interceptions and passing good idea bringing him in though felt he tired and was missing for a few edge of box shots in second half where his positioning was wanting. Good and reliable for team naked down for his discipline.

McGinn 8
Felt he had super energy and had all the hustle bustle and requirements in his role. Pressed well and had a nighty fine match aside from his pathetic attempt to gain a foul and fall over losing the possession and nearly gifting opportunity to Arsenal attack.  Raised his levels,  his standrad and wonderful midfield engine lasted whole game a superb show. Strong performance. All round positives and had a good effort from outside box thumping it one but pushed away. Well done McGinn great game.


Barkley 7
Marked down for his petulance for being subbed though to be fair to him was having a great match in attacking sense when we given ball looked dangerous and threatening. Showed several bits of outrageous skills and moved ball well on to left foot one time for a sumptuous cross. Unlucky not to have scored in this match. Showed the energy and better levels of enthusiasm round the pitch . Certainly contributed in pressing. His sub was interesting as came at a time villa slightly in defensive mind and struggling to hold the ball he was taken off but Barkley someone who impacts more in offensive third and was sacrificed would be 7.5 but down to 7. Should have scored from wonderful corner kick routine involving McGinn and Grealish.
 
Grealish 7
Still a 7.5 performance  but marked down .
A weaker game by Grealish standards and by standard of rest of team
 Cynical fouls on him granted . He himself was booked and twice cynically fouled Sakha. Made some lovely moves wide left playing Targett in and assisting Watkins but felt he was generally lacking today. I observe how he shuns the ball from throw in sometimes with his back to play and thus provides no option for a throw in. I've witness this several times. Unlucky not to have had assist to barkley and Watkins but think given at angles which are difficult due to slight today in passing. Had a thunderous left foot shot which thought he scored.  Not his day for me but the rest of team stepped up. Saw him drift on the pitch to the right side looking for the ball as times struggled to be fully immersed and get up and down the pitch. Particularly enjoyed how he beat 3 Arsenal players all around him up in attacking area. And us a wonderful talent. Made some great opportunities to score. Including corner kick routine for Barkley chance. Livid like Jack as he was adjudged to have given a foul on Willian at end which was nonsense. And think was unfairly carded for his dissent.  Unbelievable
 As was the most cynical of challenges on him by Xaka yellow card at the end stopped him in full flow .

Traore 7.5 Showed ability and great hunger and awareness. Part of reason enabled opportunity for Watkins goal was the alert of Traroe. Really superb attacking threat Has beating of players and was most useful in attack when on the  ball

Watkins 8.5
Excellent . Always looked like had more goals a handful throughout. Only scored one should have had more.  Wpuld be 9/10 if converted those chances and he was Unbelievable team work to track back 60 yards Sakha and following his run through Targett cut the pass out.Thought he maintained standards from West ham where i saw him being the best performing Villa player and he was seen scoring yet again today. Wonderful

Subs

Trezeguet 6
brought energy as per and a couple if decent tracking back and blocks but unable to really offer the attack anything. Wasn't so good but getting there again for match minutes.

Ramsey 6.5
Had a wonderful chance to score which he kinda made himself taking up Ross Barkley position and was tidy on ball if little involvement.  Good faith by Dean to have him on and experience the game and win
 Hit that shot a bit harder JJ and would have been a wonder goal. Lovely footwork when he received the ball to fashion  the opportunity for his shot.


8/10.
Major improvement from Midweek.
Watkins may have had 2 or 3 goals really
Wonderful attacking play
And very solid and played like a team with and without the ball
Mings Man of the match
Watkins superb
McGinn back to his energetic self.
Up the Villa.

[garyellis]

Mings was absolutely on his game today and deserved the BT MOTM.
As an aside the pitch looked a bit ropey compared to our usual standards.
If you want an example of why not to buy a top player wanting their last big pay day I give you Willian!

[LukeJames]

What penalty is he moaning about? I cant remember a single incident that looked like a penalty.

[Risso]

Did you actually watch the game Footy? Barkley 7.5, never in a million years.

[Allan C]

I’m also glad that we get a break now. With the run of games plus the COVID aftermath we were clearly fatigued IMO We’ve got through it without injuries and players out for weeks

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Last three games versus Arsenal - three wins, three clean sheets.