Aston Villa v Arsenal Post Match Thread

[Astnor]

Some thoughts the day after;
- First ten minutes we where as dominant and impressive as against city - what happened after might have been down to  somme exhaustion but well so much that we switched to defend a lead
- after all we did defend a lead very good - they didnt have that much opportunities for goal and not really clear cuts - not more than us on theirs goal - though they had the ball it was mostly in the middle of the pitch.
- they got frustrated to say it mildly - how they spoke after game dosent reflect good on them (already good covered on here)
- Bailey have won us two goals and two games now - he really is impressive when he gets going and hie play is going his way
- SJM - what a player to have - can turn play and games - must be best value for money in PL history
- Whats wrong with Diaby - didnt look eager to move and run some of the time (might be me as havent seen anybody else mentioning that)

[SamTheMouse]

All the commentary is about us being dominated and Arse not deserving to lose, but I didn't think they did much to be honest. It was a bit scrappy, but it's not like they were racking up chance after chance. They only had a couple that I can remember.

[Monty]

Well, I've had some time to process it, and here is my considered, thoughtful, sophiisticated analysis:

we fucking fucked them.

[saunders_heroes]

Fuckin’ brilliant result! Under the cosh for a lot of the game, but Arsenal are a bloody good team and we still beat them.
The sky is the limit for this Villa team under Emery, and I’m fuckin’ loving it!

[Smithy]

I will never tired of reading comments form salty opposition fans that begin "We shouldn't have lost to Villa because..." 

For too long we've been on the other side of that. Nice performances, that earned zero points because we came up against a more ruthless professional, well-drilled outfit. Well, now we've got one of our own.  We absolutely dominated on Wednesday, and yesterday we had to dig in and defend the advantage we earned by being better in the first 20 mins.  I would prefer more of the former, but I'll happily take 20 of the latter every single season.

Rest a few in Zrinjski and win next Sunday and things could look VERY tasty indeed - Arsenal play Brighton and Liverpool play Man Utd next weekend.  It seems almost surreal that I'm looking at the fixtures of the teams challenging for the title to see if we have a chance to go above them.  Long may it continue!

[Smithy]

All the commentary is about us being dominated and Arse not deserving to lose, but I didn't think they did much to be honest. It was a bit scrappy, but it's not like they were racking up chance after chance. They only had a couple that I can remember.

They did have a couple of very good chances, notably the two missed by Odegaard (one missed wide, one saved and held by Emi), but they didn't take them. It happens. On another day they might, and Ollie might have put his 1-on-1 away (which was called offside after he missed but would have stood on VAR as the replay showed he was onside).  But it's not like they peppered the goal or Emi was man of the match.  That honour went to our defence who were generally superb.

If we played at their place like that, and lost, I'd be disappointed too, but that's football.  And until they change the rules to start giving goals for chances created, they will have plenty more disappointing days I think.

[LeeB]

We played the better football at Newcastle and lost 5-1, thems the breaks.

[Richard]

I wouldn't even fly out Emi, Konza, Watkins etc to Zrinjski, let them rest up at home. Top 4 has never been more achievable.

[LeeB]

I wouldn't even fly out Emi, Konza, Watkins etc to Zrinjski, let them rest up at home. Top 4 has never been more achievable.

Me either, a complete 11 change for me.

[RamboandBruno]

I wouldn't even fly out Emi, Konza, Watkins etc to Zrinjski, let them rest up at home. Top 4 has never been more achievable.

Still need to finish top of the group to avoid euro games in February, so need to play the long game here. As Dougie and Digne suspended for next Sunday, I’d play them in Bosnia, along with Cash, Diaby, Tielamans, so a sprinkling of first teamers

[lovejoy]

I don’t see what the argument about the handball is, it touched his arm two or three times and the ref gave it.

[pauliewalnuts]

The whole move for the goal here.

https://x.com/BeardOfTheMatch/status/1733758556803907839?s=20

So much to like in that.

[Monty]

OK slightly more analysis:

A completely different 1-0, and that's great! Our defensive structure is now so brilliant. As McGinn said, they had a lot of the ball but not a lot of chances, and that's down to that midblock thing that Guardiola mentioned, and that looks such a nightmare to play against, you can't go over the top and you can't progress easily to the 18 yard line, what the fuck do you do? Emery's a literal, actual genius.

Another thing: McGinn's post-match interview, maintaining the self-criticism, even saying he didn't hit the shot cleanly for the goal. Now that's standards, that's being demanding. I absolutely love all of these guys.

[tomd2103]

I wouldn't even fly out Emi, Konza, Watkins etc to Zrinjski, let them rest up at home. Top 4 has never been more achievable.

Still need to finish top of the group to avoid euro games in February, so need to play the long game here. As Dougie and Digne suspended for next Sunday, I’d play them in Bosnia, along with Cash, Diaby, Tielamans, so a sprinkling of first teamers

Yeah, if Bailey's chip against Lehia Warsaw had gone a few inches lower we could have had the group wrapped up and sent the youth team out to Bosnia.

It looked like some of them desperately need a rest yesterday and it's time for others in the squad to step up now.  We could still field a side of:

Martinez
Cash
Chambers
Lenglet
Moreno

Zaniolo
Luiz
Dendincker
Ramsey

Diaby
Duran

We might need Martinez so I would play him and Luiz is suspended for next weekend, though he could potentially have a rest as well.

[FrankyH]

They don't like it up em.What a horrible whinging cheating team Arsenal are. I think both teams reflected their respective managers ,one hardworking built on team work the other contesting every refereeing decision but still diving and play acting to gain fouls and bookings in their favour. Special mention for the cheating pricks Jesus and Saka and Odegaard taking trying to referee the game to Gerardesque levels.
The one Arsenal player that did impress me was Declan Rice. In the 2nd half he drove forward and made a two quick blocks/tackles. He turned around to try a gee up his team mates into action. Well Villa didn't let them and to me that's why Arsenal wont win the title. I am not saying we will , but we haven't got that soft underbelly them cheats have.