Aston Villa v Arsenal Match Thread

[Goldenballs]

Glad for HT there. They look much better than City/we look tired.

[Garyth]

Only one shot on target. Are we Man City in disguise?

😎

[ez]

We're finding it difficult to spin their midfielders.

[Keeno]

Need to start the second half strong again. They capitalised on a lot of 50/50s in the final 15 minutes there that led to a lot of pressure. Think Diaby closer to Ollie might be a good move if Bailey isn’t fit. Still - we are ahead. 45 mins to go lads

[tomd2103]

Started really well, but gave the ball away far too many times, especially in Central areas, as the half went on. 

We can get at them though. 

[CT Villan]

Decent enough...but would like to see us go at them a bit more as they look shaky at the back.

I am taking an increasing dislike to the asshole ref. He has been a twat to us before and I see it building again. Arsenal should have had another couple of yellows and him not giving free-kicks for the fouls on Konsa and Kamara (twice) were poor.

[ExclDawg]

Their midfielders look a lot better than what we saw against Man City, but we also look to have tired legs.  A lot of tripping on the ball and such.

[Garyth]

We’re clogging up the midfield and nullifying Rice & co, but when we get the ball we’re rushing it sometimes and losing the ball. Still, rather be up 1-0 than the other way around.

[Neil Hawkes]

I'm worried about this referee - played beyond the 2 mins when they where attacking, when we won it back he blew up.
What's with shirt pulling no longer being a yellow, when the foul is given?
Hmm.

[edgysatsuma89]

All their attacks have come from our piss poor touch, basically. Need to sort that out.

[Flamingo Lane]

Emery has vital decisions to make on substitutions here.

[KevinGage]

Douglas Luiz looking a bit ropey that half. But Arsenal can do that to you.

Maybe the recent volume of games catching up with a few of ours.

[algy]

Come on me Villa babbies!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Too many passes missing the weight, we're creating our own problems. Watkins hopefully will put his boots on the right feet at half time, nothing sticking to him. If Diaby replaces Bailey he needs to be more of a threat than he has been recently. JJ I'm not sure is fit enough to play 45 minutes right now, it would be wonderful if he is as we need to take the game to them more.

That said, for all the Arsenal pressure they haven't really troubled us. Emi has made sure of that.

[Smithy]

Is it weird that I'm disappointed that we're not dominating against the team that were top of the league this morning?  I guess this is how games SHOULD be between the top sides, tight, difficult to create clear cut chances and both sides always one mistake from conceding.

Arsenal have been a very good side for a couple of seasons now, and they're a good side tonight.  I think we're going to need a second if we're going to win, but I imagine Emi has never been more motivated for a clean sheet.