Villa Arsenal Post Match

[BC Villain]

It was as if none of them wanted to be there, which filtered through to the crowd, which filtered through to me. I haven't been that bored watching us since..... errrrm.... Newcastle away.

This two 10's with Ashley Young as the width, no pressing and slow build up is fucking rancid.

That's exactly the way I thought.  Arsenal were superb in the first half, but I thought they took their foot off the pedal in the second.  Yet even then, our performance had a "can't be arsed" feel about it

[PaulWinch again]

Digne being injured is a massive problem. Our width completely disappears down the left side.

[Steve67]

I think we are at a crossroads. We have just bought in a new manager and need to back him. So let’s wait till the summer and do it.  We are not good enough in several areas. Needs addressing so hopefully the owners support the manager.

[SoccerHQ]

Last season it felt like we were really starting to close gap on likes of Arsenal. Now it feels like there's as wide a gulf as ever although their subs were awful so not like they have an amazing squad.

Being honest we miss Grealish big time against these sorts of teams as he could run at defenders direct and get FKs and create space. Coutinho is more about floating around and picking clever passes.

Less said about Ollie's attempts at holding up the ball today the better....

[levico]

You win some you lose some ad infinitum. When will it ever end. Why can’t we draw once in a while.
What a total waste of our generous benefactors’ money.

Can’t see this ever changing.

[Risso]

Watkins is rubbish. Needs an upgrade in the summer.

[dorsetvillian]

Another shocking performance. The lack of energy and self belief is very worrying. Arsenal won't have an easier game all season. I thought Gerrard wouldn't respect these teams at home but we gave Arsenal far to much respect. Not one player would get more than 5/10 today.

[LukeJames]

I thought Gerrard wouldn't respect these teams at home but we gave Arsenal far to much respect.

Yeah I thought the same, I thought we'd take it to anybody under him but unfortunately its been anything but that. We seem to have an inferiority complex against anybody above us in the table.

[manic-road]

Extremely poor performance in the first half, no pressing simply allowed Arsenal to stroll into our half compared to Arsenal who pressed us high and we couldn’t play out. We showed a bit of urgency after we conceded and in the second half but in reality, we were second best all over the pitch. Watkins doesn’t need a second touch as he normally loses the ball with his first touch, he isn’t improving, and I wouldn’t be against an upgrade in the summer. Jacob was poor with his passing today and along with McGinn and Luiz the midfield sat deep and didn’t support the forward play very much. If Villa are going to kick on next season we need to strengthen the midfield.

[rougegorge]

Also we shouldn't be too tired or jaded. Along with Newcastle I reckon we've playe the fewest games of any club in the country. So the lack of energy in comparison is unfathomable.

[SoccerHQ]

I thought Gerrard wouldn't respect these teams at home but we gave Arsenal far to much respect.

Yeah I thought the same, I thought we'd take it to anybody under him but unfortunately its been anything but that. We seem to have an inferiority complex against anybody above us in the table.

Does seem to be a recurring theme at home, stand off them for first half hour which happened v Man. City and Chelsea (Man. United was a little different with Emi chucking one in early).

Can understand it away from home as you can easily be two down early.

Won't be getting near 7th next season though if we don't have more belief to play our own game against top teams. So flat today.

[Goldie.7]

0-1 down at home with 12 minutes to go plus injury time and McGinn and Luiz are camping the fucking centre circle refusing to get forward.

We are firmly on course to lose 20 matches this season with those two lightweights in midfield.

[achilles]

We have a major problem with Watkins as he just cannot hold the ball up, so the midfield never commit forward as they know the ball will be coming back very soon!

That was utterly shocking across the whole pitch (exception Cash who at least showed some endevour).

In the end I was so bored I was just waiting for the time I could leave to go home!

This is anything but progress!

[PhilVill]

Piss poor from players and piss poor from management. Cash, Mings and Konza were average, Young had a decent second half, the rest of the outfield were wank. We never laid a glove on them. Grealish really did make Watkins look a very good player last year and for that alone, he was worth £100 million

[ez]

Watkins is horribly off form but we can't really drop him as the only replacement would be Ings.