Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal Post Match Thread

[villa `cross the mersey]

Stonking wins against the likes of Liverpool are brilliant but results like today demonstrate how far we have progressed.
Loving the expansive open attacking play but as I have stated previously,the time for all of that is when the game is "won"
Full marks to Smith and his team for getting the defence to put  in a massive shift today after a disappointing performance earlier this week . Building on a solid defence bodes well for the future

[The Edge]

Makes such a difference to have a set of players and coaches who are all helping each other.

Emi admits he wasn't good enough of Wednesday. Comes into training and gets the forwards to fire shots at him from the same angles, without letting anything past him.

Mings acknowledges his occasional brain farts, and now you see him taking no chances if there's any doubt. Just put the ball into touch and reset.

When you've got that attitude, the sky really is the limit.

That's what makes Barkley's strop all the more annoying. Strolls around and thinks he's above being subbed. Ramsey did more in his 15 minutes than Barkley in 75 – pressing well, dropping back when needed and moving the ball with intelligence

The week off will do them well. Wouldn't be surprised after a full week of training to see Sanson or Ramsey starting next week.

That was a brilliant performance from Emi. I think that the two biggest deals last summer were Jack's new deal and signing Martinez. What a signing he's been. Arsenal must be mad letting him go.

[olaftab]

Ross was 7/10. I marked him down from the 7.5 but he was petulant .Though it also shows he thought he was playing well and was annoyed he was taken off.

Next time someone calls me out for doing a crap job I am going to be petulant to prove that I was doing a good job.

[The Edge]

Ross was 7/10. I marked him down from the 7.5 but he was petulant .Though it also shows he thought he was playing well and was annoyed he was taken off.

Next time someone calls me out for doing a crap job I am going to be petulant to prove that I was doing a good job.

Opinions mate.

[PaulTheVillan]

Really solid defensive performance. Thought Watkins was really good. As for Barkley, I’m not too fussed with players stropping when coming off, he’ll soon get over it. I thought he was poor mostly apart from a half decent first 10 minutes of the 2nd half. A good win after that weak performance against West Ham

[ASHTONVILLA]

Didn't think Barkely was any worse than McGinn or Traore, and had a hand in some of our better bits of attacking play. The whole midfield was underwhelming today and put the defence under pressure. Thing with him sulking coming off is that you want players not to like being subbed. If he was nonchalant about it I'd be worried he didn't care about being pulled for underperforming.

Anyway pleased with the three points, and despite not being dominant we certainly had all the best chances and put in a great defensive performance. Well done to Mings, Cash, Martinez and targett  who were all excellent today.

[john e]

I’m liking Ramsey’s cameos too.

That little bit of skill towards the end was wonderful.

I'm sure it was but I was to busy hiding in a cupboard at that point to notice

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

A great win for Villa. Martinez done all his work in the first half I dont recall much getting past the back four 2nd half for him to save.
Beautiful pass from traore with the outside of the boot for the goal, Watkins really has the Midas touch at the moment. Very comfortable victory. I would have preferred to have a bit more ball in the later stages of the 2nd half but we did what we had to do.

Barkley was much better today than against west ham, in an attacking sense he had a couple of chances, was braver in possession and went on a few surges. However the off the ball work is still powder puff. Jockeying and jogging without urgency. All he's got to do is what Ramsey did in 15mins. press with intensity force a defender to launch it, make a nuisance of himself leave a foot in even take a yellow card. Fans won't hammer him for being a crap tackler look at paul scholes! Surely he understands the message now he's been hooked for the last few games. Many people were surprised he started.

[PaulWinch again]

Martinez made 3 key saves in the second half from memory.

[darren woolley]

Great result and what brilliant defending by the lads.

[Dave P]

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

Pass, pass, pass, bore.

They’d be shit on mastermind. 27 passes and no points.

[KevinGage]

Thing with him sulking coming off is that you want players not to like being subbed. If he was nonchalant about it I'd be worried he didn't care about being pulled for underperforming.

Indeed.

He's a step up from the options we had last year and part of the reason why we started so well this season.

[Exeter 77]

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.

[Toronto Villa]

Today’s win was critical as it kept us in touch with the side above us. Important to remember that a number of the teams above us and around us will still have domestic cup and European football to contend with starting again later this month. That’s going to take a toll on them. If we can keep it together we can make some ground up and take advantage of their fatigue. Our schedule to the end of the season is quite open relative to the past 6 games.

[Percy McCarthy]

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.