Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal Post Match Thread

[Sexual Ealing]

Just read the most Arsenal comment ever. "I regret that I cannot be at games to boo Willian".

[Concrete Tom]

Typical.

As the weather is looking decidedly shite from tomorrow for a few days.

I decided to go for a good cycle ride (locally I must add) and missed the game.

I think its the first complete game I’ve missed for ages.

Anyhow just watched the highlights on Sky and it looks like we battered them - not hung on:

https://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-arsenal/report/429057

Bert’s first touches for the assist are fab - so too his turn inside for his dink shot.

I think he is going to be a great player for us once his ups his fitness levels and can track back and defend.  Something that should come with good coaching.

His attempt to dink was so frustrating. Should have been a better effort for a chance of going two up!!

[Ads]

He should have drilled it towards the newr post and the whole afternoon would have been even more comfortable than it was. A player of real quality though.

[The Edge]

Having very little match day involvement Nakamba could be expected to tire, I think he performed well and was tidy on the ball. After West Ham all teams will double up on Grealish but he will always give teams problems. Solid no frills win.

That's two games now where Jack's been largely nullified so it looks like that's how teams will match up against us. Over to our coaches now to work out how to use him better and how we can use the extra man to our advantage.

[Steve67]

I thought Dean got his post match comments spot on yesterday.  Not sure what game Arteta was watching.  Yes, Arsenal had a lot of the ball, but waht did they really do with it?  Two saves of notes for Emi Martinez, and one of those was deflected to the near post off Ezri Konsa, and the other one was the free kick in the first half from Granit whotsisface.  Other than that, they were all fart and no shit.  We made their keeper work hard and had by far the better chances. 

[eamonn]

It really depends if you place any value in territorial dominance in the final third and the approach play there. Odegaard blazed over after making good space to shoot from inside the box with about 10 minutes left. He really should have scored.

On this thread, Emi being tested seems to be the only criteria for Arsenal going close.

A lot of the top sides play like Arsenal did but they have better end-product or they don't come across teams like us who regularly put their bodies on the line to block shots from everywhere. As part of our evolution we'll also have to learn that art of keeping a team pinned inside their own 18 yard box because counter-attacks and Jack weaving his magic won't always be enough.

Ultimately it was a hard-earned win against a good footballing side (naive in other parts of their game).

[Villa Lew]

I'm being lazy here but any Statto's on here care to let us know the last time we did the double over Arsenal?  Pleeeeeease.  Well done Villa.

1992/3 season. Saunders pen at home in a 1-0 win, Daley goal away, also 1-0.

Thanks Martin, appreciate it.

The day of the away game that season was the one when Small Heath were 4-1 up against Swindon and ended up losing 6-4 I think.

I think that was the day of the 2-1 win when Saunders and Townsend scored.

EDIT: you were right. Only just realised I went to both those games, had absolutely no recollection of the Daley one, apart from recalling quite clearly that I was at Highbury when I heard the Blues-Swindon score.

How very Blues of me.

I've lived in the south-east for almost 50 years and have seen most our our matches at Highbury and the Emirates, including 1981, but I think the 2-1 in 1993 was our luckiest victory. We were completely outplayed  but Bosnich saved a Wright penalty and Andy Townsend scored the winner in the last minute. Real smash and grab.

I was at the 93 game with the Arsenal fans (north bank was closed for redevelopment). I couldn’t contain my excitement when Daley scored but all I got at the end was well done and please win the title instead of Utd. As we all know it didn’t end well

I was at the 93 away game at Highbury.

They only gave us something like 2000 or maybe less  tickets crammed in in the corner of the clock end.

Went apeshit went Tony scored!!!
 Am sure it was 0.1 to us and not 1.2

If you read the thread you’ll see we’ve worked out that’s the one.

Tony's goal was a collecters item a header

[olaftab]

We did beat them twice the year after down, but they were both at Highbury. Atkinson in the League Cup and then that great comeback 2-1 win late on with Whittingham and Townsend.

was in the North Bank for the 2-1 league win with an arsenal supporting mate. Managed to sit on my hands for the first goal, but when whittingham scored (penalty I think) I went up as did about 6 or 7 lads a couple of seats away from me. Had no idea there were other Villa fans about. The Arsenal supporters weren’t too happy about it and it was a bit moody heading down the stairs on the way out after the match.

Small world. I was on a prawn sandwich invite for the 2-1 win in the East Stand  so probably could have waved and smirked at you both.

[fredm]

Having very little match day involvement Nakamba could be expected to tire, I think he performed well and was tidy on the ball. After West Ham all teams will double up on Grealish but he will always give teams problems. Solid no frills win.

That's two games now where Jack's been largely nullified so it looks like that's how teams will match up against us. Over to our coaches now to work out how to use him better and how we can use the extra man to our advantage.

I think one thing Jack needs to start doing is playing the ball off as he receives it.  For the majority of times he controls the ball, and takes it up to their defenders before either going past them or playing it off.  By doing this it gives them that extra few seconds to get closer to him.  If he played it off immediately it would put them in two minds as to what he was going to do.

[baddowvillans]

Not sure why the post game MOTD analysis focused solely on Arsenal attacks and play and of course the Aston Villa crimes against humanity!  Foul on Saka would never be a red even against Man Utd.  The Martinez incident looks bad but again was only shown as a short highly edited clip and before condemning Emi I would want to know what went before.  Certainly earlier in the game Pepe was fouling the keeper so maybe Arsenal had a plan to wind him up.  Anyway tough.  Thought Arteta sounded an arrogant twat in his post match who clearly feels he shouldn't keep losing to "the likes of Villa".  Thought he'd be used to it by now

[LukeJames]

The Saka one was a foul on Konsa so fuck them.

[Chris Smith]

It really depends if you place any value in territorial dominance in the final third and the approach play there. Odegaard blazed over after making good space to shoot from inside the box with about 10 minutes left. He really should have scored.

On this thread, Emi being tested seems to be the only criteria for Arsenal going close.

A lot of the top sides play like Arsenal did but they have better end-product or they don't come across teams like us who regularly put their bodies on the line to block shots from everywhere. As part of our evolution we'll also have to learn that art of keeping a team pinned inside their own 18 yard box because counter-attacks and Jack weaving his magic won't always be enough.

Ultimately it was a hard-earned win against a good footballing side (naive in other parts of their game).

The thing about Arsenal is, they always try to walk it in!

[baddowvillans]

"The thing about Arsenal is, they always try to walk it in!"

Something I think we can reasonably have been accused of at times this season.  Need to be more ruthless in front of goal.  Defensively superb yesterday but a one goal lead and miss after miss leaves us vulnerable.  Fabulous to see us creating so much though - fine lines!

[The Edge]

The Saka one was a foul on Konsa so fuck them.

It was 50/50 at best. Both players legs got tangled and basically both fell over. The Arse players wanted Konsa sent off for it. How fucking desperate was that?  As for the "penalty" again no fucking chance. Their player was leaning into Emi and knew exactly what he was doing. Emi grabbed him to prevent himself being pushed over. Again desperate springs to mind. It could just as easily been given as a foul on the keeper.

[eamonn]

That's true, there is a fine line with impressive possession football in dangerous areas and the final product. I just don't think Arsenal are as bad as some are making out. We had to concentrate and expend a fair whack of physical energy to see that game out. The squad have earned a couple of days off and no match for a week.