Villa Arsenal Post Match

[AlexAlexCropley]

An opposition ex player was on the radio yesterday saying that Villa Park was one of the top grounds, pitches, fanbase and atmospheres going. He said that it made players get up for the game and want to do well. I still think that's the case, and we suffer for it.

Apart from our players

[Clampy]

I had a sneaky feeling he was going to drop Ings yesterday and maybe bring in Sanson and push Ramsey further forward. I'm not sure how well that would have gone down before the game mind you.

[garyellis]

Without stating the obvious they pressed us and did not allow us to play the ball out from the back.
We generally let them have the ball and play it out.
Agree when Bailey came on they dropped off but they were already a goal to the good.
We must move the ball much quicker against the top teams and match their press.
If you look at Arsenal and West Ham how many of their squad would you take and who would you move on?
Remember this is the same Arsenal team who had put their manager under a lot of pressure earlier this season.

[Risso]

I had a sneaky feeling he was going to drop Ings yesterday and maybe bring in Sanson and push Ramsey further forward. I'm not sure how well that would have gone down before the game mind you.

He doesn't seem the type to be bothered by what people think. He really needs to break up the McGinn and Luiz partnership though, it's very rarely worked to great effect in all the matches they've played together.

[brontebilly]

McGinn improved a bit yesterday when he moved to the left of Luiz in the second half after a truly horrendous first half effort. I really can't fathom why Smith previously and Gerrard persist with McGinn on the right of Luiz. I guess the thinking might be it frees him up to have a shot on his left near the box. But instead both McGinn and Ramsey are being easily turned by opponents onto their weaker foot with the ball. It really hurts us our ability to play through midfield against better teams. It's also starting to beggar belief why the most technically accomplished out of all of them, Sanson, is being left on the bench.

It's becoming clearer that Gerrard, and his preferred style of play, isn't suiting a lot of the recent recruits by the club. Traore, Sanson, Bailey, Ings and possibly Buendia come to mind. Not all Gerrard's fault obviously, some of these were just poor/panic signings, but it just shows our efforts to replace Grealish's influence have been really poor.

[The Edge]

There's a definite pattern emerging.  Last week Rice and Soucek dominated the midfield. This week it was Granit Xhakas turn. Who knew?

[eamonn]

When Gerrard interviewed for the job surely the "grilling" questions Purslow claimed he asked would have included "How will you get value out of all these £15m+ singings we've made in the past 18 months?" Because apart from Buendia who is still not guaranteed a start, all the other players mentioned (Traore, Sanson, Bailey, Ings) have stagnated at best or regressed.

[The Edge]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

[Bobby Boy]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

It was yet Arsenal by surrounding the ref were clearly trying to get Mings sent off.

They were mithering throughout the game. Lacazette and Xhaka in particular.

A team modelled in the image of its manager.

[wittonwarrior]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

It was yet Arsenal by surrounding the ref were clearly trying to get Mings sent off.

They were mithering throughout the game. Lacazette and Xhaka in particular.

A team modelled in the image of its manager.

110% Arteta was a cheating git ! full on

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

It was yet Arsenal by surrounding the ref were clearly trying to get Mings sent off.

They were mithering throughout the game. Lacazette and Xhaka in particular.

A team modelled in the image of its manager.

What annoyed me more was the diving and rolling around of Saka. What a tosser! He makes Jack Grealish look like Roy Keane.

[Bobby Boy]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

It was yet Arsenal by surrounding the ref were clearly trying to get Mings sent off.

They were mithering throughout the game. Lacazette and Xhaka in particular.

A team modelled in the image of its manager.

What annoyed me more was the diving and rolling around of Saka. What a tosser! He makes Jack Grealish look like Roy Keane.

Saka said afterwards that he was asking the ref for protection during the game.

I mean, our tackling was brutal throughout wasn't?!?

Unreal.

[achilles]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

Totally agree, I think he was the worse I have seen this season and that is saying a lot!
Brilliant tackle by Mings but the Arsenal players got to the ref and I thought for a minute the ref might actually send Mings off, totally ridiculous!

[Clampy]

A quick mention for the ref yesterday. He was bloody awful. Booked Mings for winning the ball and got worse as the game went on.

The Mings booking was farcical.

It was yet Arsenal by surrounding the ref were clearly trying to get Mings sent off.

They were mithering throughout the game. Lacazette and Xhaka in particular.

A team modelled in the image of its manager.

What annoyed me more was the diving and rolling around of Saka. What a tosser! He makes Jack Grealish look like Roy Keane.

Saka said afterwards that he was asking the ref for protection during the game.

I mean, our tackling was brutal throughout wasn't?!?

Unreal.

To be honest, there were 6 bookings and I can't remember a bad foul.

[Beard82]

When Gerrard interviewed for the job surely the "grilling" questions Purslow claimed he asked would have included "How will you get value out of all these £15m+ singings we've made in the past 18 months?" Because apart from Buendia who is still not guaranteed a start, all the other players mentioned (Traore, Sanson, Bailey, Ings) have stagnated at best or regressed.

I think the most grilling question Purslow asked was - will you sign my shirt

To be honest I guess he must have been asked about it.  Isn’t the idea meant to be we have a style of play that is used throughout the whole club - but equally SG probably said something about making them the best versions of themselves