Post match positivity (Arsenal H)

[Nunkin1965]

We're a top 4 side, we're not a title challenging side, yet. Arsenal are. Man City are a title winning side, so there's your escalation points.

Felt we were better against Arsenal today for a longer period than we were in either game last season, particularly the home fixture. Missed 3 really good chances to be out of sight, in a game that didn't really have any significant difference between the sides until a fortunate ricochet. Fine margins, etc etc.

The chances we missed were real gilt edged ones we ought to have taken. Score and we win.

I dont think Partey should have been on the pitch, a 2nd booking for a late shirt tug on Onana or Rogers, but Emi must do better. Digne shackled Saka, although doesn't offer as much going forwards as Ian.

Subs and injuries made the first 30 a bit stop start. Pur 2nd ball was a rushed and wayward at times, after beating the press. Rogers continues to impress and I'm hopeful JJ is nearing full fitness too.

I'd like a Diaby replacement and another centre half, but we look a really good side. Easier to be sanguine in August, but lots of positives.

Pretty much what I would have written about our showing yesterday against potential title winners Ads.
The result went against us but we ran them close overall and we were miles better than last year in every department apart from the important one!
Ollie will be flying soon and we'll be top 4 contenders again.
Absolutely agree about Partey also.

[Beard82]

We're a top 4 side, we're not a title challenging side, yet. Arsenal are. Man City are a title winning side, so there's your escalation points.

Felt we were better against Arsenal today for a longer period than we were in either game last season, particularly the home fixture. Missed 3 really good chances to be out of sight, in a game that didn't really have any significant difference between the sides until a fortunate ricochet. Fine margins, etc etc.

The chances we missed were real gilt edged ones we ought to have taken. Score and we win.

I dont think Partey should have been on the pitch, a 2nd booking for a late shirt tug on Onana or Rogers, but Emi must do better. Digne shackled Saka, although doesn't offer as much going forwards as Ian.

Subs and injuries made the first 30 a bit stop start. Pur 2nd ball was a rushed and wayward at times, after beating the press. Rogers continues to impress and I'm hopeful JJ is nearing full fitness too.

I'd like a Diaby replacement and another centre half, but we look a really good side. Easier to be sanguine in August, but lots of positives.

Pretty much what I would have written about our showing yesterday against potential title winners Ads.
The result went against us but we ran them close overall and we were miles better than last year in every department apart from the important one!
Ollie will be flying soon and we'll be top 4 contenders again.
Absolutely agree about Partey also.

Yeah good summary -  I agree on Partey - Arsenal and Man City seem to be able to walk the win of tactical fouls without sending off - a big part of it is I think they do it more subtlety then others

[Pat McMahon]

Absolute shit show at the ground trying to get in. Also, the "this is Villa Park" screen - yes we know. Bring back the match clock?

That's exactly what I thought. I couldn't read the time from the Holte, had to take a photo of it then zoom in.

On a more positive note they've made a good job of the bogs, nicely refurbished and clean.

I completely agree on the clock - just show the bloody time. As you say, we know where the f*ck we are but we don’t know how long has been played.

The toilets in the upper Holte were a disgrace - St Andrews level disgrace. The urinals were close to overflowing before kick off and by half time there was a centimetre of piss in the floor. Full time was full on Trainspotting. .

On the pitch, a tale of awful finishing by Ollie at one end  and an error by Martinez at the other to finish the game. Overall I thought we showed promise going forward, notably Rogers  who was our MOTM, and the defence were generally very good too. However I thought we struggled in midfield where Odegaard was excellent for them.

An annoying defeat but plenty of positives to build on.

[Mister E]

We were nowhere near our peak performances of last season.

Agreed - Arsenal might say the same of their performance.

Too many players not at the right level.

Same point as the one above. Only Watkins looked well off the mark, though.

Watkins was awful, Bailey reverted to the player of 2 seasons ago.

Watkins was well off the mark. Bailey did some good things (in defence, particularly) and his pressing set up Watkins for the first miss; but, I do think he has to be more effective going forward (I don't see him leaving defenders in his wake, for example).

Good teams do not give up the ball as easily as we did.

- we'll get better.

Nothing positive about losing at Villa Park.

- I think it's okay to be able to take positives away from a defeat - we played some good football, gave last season's runners-up a hell of a fright, saw the new boys playing themselves into Emery's system, forced Raya to make a couple of world-class saves.

[Mister E]

Absolute shit show at the ground trying to get in. Also, the "this is Villa Park" screen - yes we know. Bring back the match clock?

That's exactly what I thought. I couldn't read the time from the Holte, had to take a photo of it then zoom in.

... The toilets in the upper Holte were a disgrace - St Andrews level disgrace. The urinals were close to overflowing before kick off and by half time there was a centimetre of piss in the floor. Full time was full on Trainspotting.

Terrible. When you consider, they reduced toilet capacity in the upper Holte last season, to fit in a new bar, and then increased the number of seats over this close-season, the state of the toilets was a disgrace. To Heck: "GET THE BASICS SORTED !"

[manic-road]

Despite the result I think that we have got closer to Arsenal, the two missed golden chances was the difference but I saw plenty to be optimistic about. Rogers had a blinder and I thought Tielemans had a very good game alongside Onana.

[PaulWinch again]

There was one segment of play in the first half where I thought they’d cut through us and were going to score and Onana just appeared from nowhere to clear. I’m really impressed with him so far.

[Bad English]

UTV!

[astonvilla82]

Overall I am happy apart from Watkins contribution,

[brontebilly]

Anyone think we now need to upgrade SJM?

Shouldnt have taken him off anyway. Bailey should have gone before him.

[The Edge]

Overall I am happy apart from Watkins contribution,

It makes me wonder if he's been got at by one of the European giants. Two games in and his contribution so far has been negligible. Even when he's having a dry spell in front of goal he's usually still an absolute thorn in the side of any defender but we've seen nothing of this so far.

[Pat McMahon]

Good view BE. Was that corporate or normal searing in the Trinity?

I forgot to mention the queues earlier. I was in Holte upper and entry was ok, maybe a 5 minute queue. The lower Holte was ridiculous at 5pm and I reckon a number of people wouldn’t have made kick off.

[Richard]

Overall I am happy apart from Watkins contribution,

It makes me wonder if he's been got at by one of the European giants. Two games in and his contribution so far has been negligible. Even when he's having a dry spell in front of goal he's usually still an absolute thorn in the side of any defender but we've seen nothing of this so far.

No. Just lacks match sharpness, the Euros were demanding in many ways even though he played only some games. The likes of Rodri Stones Walker and Foden have similarly not played much for City yet. We of course don't have their squad depth yet.

[olaftab]

Good view BE. Was that corporate or normal searing in the Trinity?

Yes great photos. BE is from Tile Cross so no way he's ever going to stain his earthiness by taking a corporate seat.

[Holy Trinity]

Slept on it and thought long an hard about the game and I have to say we were fantastic for large parts of the game.
Result aside I would only change 1 starter moving into the next game and I would be moving hell and high water to get a RCB in who can also play right back as Ned isn't quite there and if cash is out for a while I would be worried to heap pressure on Ned.

Maatsen has to start 100% and I'm sure he will displace Digne fairly soon.

Rogers was magnificent
Onana looks class
Youri is just as good as Dougie IMO
Centre backs looked good.
Bailey looked OK but a little off.
Ollie was very wasteful and if his open goal goes in we win that game. But that's Ollie, sometimes he has a game like that.

We went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the world and didn't disgrace ourselves.

Loss aside we have so much to look forward to this season and the signs are already there for all too see.