Aston Villa v Arsenal Post Match Thread

[Villan82]

Has Diaby gone off the boil a bit? He was on fire at the start of the season but as we have got better as a team he has faded a bit

[tomd2103]

One thing, I think yesterday showed that we really do need another forward. I thought Ollie was very quiet, whether that's because he's tired or they just marked him very well I don't know, but his first touch was a bit off all night. An option to bring on would have been very welcome.

He was up against a very decent player in Saliba, he did get that one chance 2nd half which the keeper spilled , Diaby if he'd been awake might have followed up on that

Yeah I didn't think he got much change out of Saliba really.  The ref allowed Saliba to be all over Watkins all game though so it was tough going for him, as Saliba is a unit.

[VillaTim]

We allowed them more of the ball, the press started at the 1/2 way line unlike Wednesday when it was the edge of City’s box.

there's no way we could have pressed again like we did v Ci$y , the players were exhausted

[AV84]

Watched the little highlights video the club put on YouTube and noticed a couple things I missed yesterday.

Torres gets involved with some mild argy bargy with Havertz and a couple of other Arsenal players, good to see him holding his ground.

Emery is whipping up the crowd just after the handball goal isn't given. I don't think I've ever seen him interact with the crowd like that while the game is still being played.

And then a nice little group hug between Martinez, Carlos, Moreno, and Torres right at the end. Lovely stuff.

[VillaTim]

Has Diaby gone off the boil a bit? He was on fire at the start of the season but as we have got better as a team he has faded a bit

Definitely , again yesterday that one run into the box and instead of taking the player on he checks back and gets it all wrong. Think he's just taking time to settle . His pace is electric though

[London Villan]

Emery orchestrates the crowd - gesturing to be calm when we are getting agitated and yesterday trying to whip things up when the decisions were going against us. We are part of the plan and have to play our part too, which I think we've done in both games this week.

[Ian.]

One thing, I think yesterday showed that we really do need another forward. I thought Ollie was very quiet, whether that's because he's tired or they just marked him very well I don't know, but his first touch was a bit off all night. An option to bring on would have been very welcome.

He was up against a very decent player in Saliba, he did get that one chance 2nd half which the keeper spilled , Diaby if he'd been awake might have followed up on that

Yeah I didn't think he got much change out of Saliba really.  The ref allowed Saliba to be all over Watkins all game though so it was tough going for him, as Saliba is a unit.

He’s had a tough couple of games, playing against arguably the two best centre halves in the league in Saliba and Diaz. He’s done well, but it would have been good to have someone else who could take over and not just a raw talent like Duran.

[Lastfootstamper]

Apologies if I'm repeating anything posted previously, but I've just noticed that Digne was the only player that didn't get a touch in the build-up to the goal. Fantastic stuff. Fantasy stuff, even.

[Risso]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

[AV82EC]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

Is that Watkins?

[Monty]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

Watkins? Yeah, his touch can go if he tires. He still does all that great physical and intelligent work off the ball, he'll always do that, but his second-half shot was the shot of a tired Ollie.

[AV82EC]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

Watkins? Yeah, his touch can go if he tires. He still does all that great physical and intelligent work off the ball, he'll always do that, but his second-half shot was the shot of a tired Ollie.

It should definitely be Duran on Thursday.

[Risso]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

Is that Watkins?

Yes, Ollie. I'm not criticising him because he's run his nuts off, but he needs a break.

[AV82EC]

His passing last night was awful, only a 40% completion rate. I think I'd rest him for Thursday, he looks knackered.

Is that Watkins?

Yes, Ollie. I'm not criticising him because he's run his nuts off, but he needs a break.

Absolutely Risso, week of light training and no trip to Bosnia would do him the world of good. He can then rip into his old club next Sunday.

[manic-road]

Risso, you can always be relied on to find something you aren’t happy with even after a superb win.