Arsenal v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

We dropped points away to one of the best sides in Europe. ManU and Chelses dropped points at home to shit sides. Beat Forest, who just lost at home to Everton, and all is ok.

[Ian.]

It’s like we’ve spent the last thirty years protecting keepers to suddenly say fuck it, do what you want in there, so if that’s the case Martinez needs to toughen up and throw a punch at the attackers. If they can challenge with elbows up, then it’s a free for all.

[Mellin]

Chins up. That game isn't a reflection of who or where we are. We finished with Bogarde, Garcia and two kids on the pitch. It's not enough away at top of the league and I think we all knew when Kamara and Cash got suspended that it would be too much.

Unbelievable run. Trick is to win the next one and get motoring again. United and Chelsea dropping points at home to shite whilst we lose at the Emirates is an unexpected bonus.

[AndyB6]

With Kamara and Onana both playing most of the match we could have got at least a point there.
Our shape in the middle went to pot second half.
Thought first two goals conceded were very poor defensively.
But I still don't understand how elbowing tbe goalkeeper is now legitimate.
Plus the referee was a complete bottle job. Saka should have been booked and Merino sent off. Pretty pathetic.

[Steve67]

Fine margins.  We could have been two up before Arsenal scored.  Poor miss from Watkins, poor passing going forward when in great positions.  Crap from Martinez for the first goal, giving the ball away for a couple of the other goals.  It goes to show that we are a thinner squad and struggle to live with the top two when we have a few injuries or suspensions and we should celebrate the brilliant manager that we have because he gets every ounce of effort and energy from some ordinary players (Lindelof, Sancho, Malen etc).  If we can go and get a couple of loans or permanent transfers to give us a boost, that would be very welcome.    It's about time Arsenal beat us, wankers.

[PaulWinch again]

We dropped points away to one of the best sides in Europe. ManU and Chelses dropped points at home to shit sides. Beat Forest, who just lost at home to Everton, and all is ok.

Indeed, it’s frustrating after a good first half, but that was always a very difficult game. Need to bounce back now, and Emi needs to start being much better in physical challenges.

[DB]

We dropped points away to one of the best sides in Europe. ManU and Chelses dropped points at home to shit sides. Beat Forest, who just lost at home to Everton, and all is ok.

100%
An amazing run has come to an end to the favs to win the league, it had to at some point.

[JUAN PABLO]

Arsenal aint winning the league  , 115 are but we will still push Ass to second place.
We was very under strength tonight and the first half with Onana we was the better team  .
We reset , beat the trees and Palace and we are there sniffing their pathetic backsides.
All I want is chumps league ( which is 1000% on ) and to finish above  those twats . . .. .
THanks for the 11 wins Villa. 

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

Not too down hearted after that. Things went against us tonight and the differences in the respective squad depths really showed.

The ref was pathetic for not sending off Merino.

[Nev]

He does some good things but to win a title you can't carry players like Sancho who put in countless half hearted challenges. Along with the squad depth these are the things that mark out champions and we don't have that. Yet.

[LeonW]

Some of the Arsenal fans celebrating being top of the league, etc, in December, so premature and entirely in keeping with why they won’t win the league.

We were really in the game and playing well but the two goals in quick succession killed us. We need to work with Martinez to stop getting caught out on corners like this. That’s two games on the bounce we've conceded the same goal.

A word for the ref: I worried when I saw he was given this game. Saka committed 3 professional fouls and didn’t get booked once. Merino should easily have been sent off for a cynical foul after he’s been booked. Contrast with Rodgers and Watkins each being booked for nothing. It was always going to be an uphill task to get anything from this game. But you need a ref who at least is going to keep a level playing fiend.

We’ve had an amazing run and it had to come to an end. Well done lads.

[SaddVillan]

A bit of perspective

Squad depth (lack of) clearly exposed.

Substitutes
Arsenal
Jesus - £50m
Ben White - £50m
Norgaard £10m
Madeuke £50m
Myles-Skelly - Academy

Villa
McGinn £2.5m
Garcia £6m
Malen £21m
Hemmings - Academy
Jimoh-Aloba - Academy

Arse spent a net £263m in the summer.

Arteta's spent a net £900m.

Since Unai arrived, our net spend is €48m
Arsenal have spent €463m in that time.

When Onana went off could' we have put Garcia on at full back and pushed Bogey into midfield alongside Youri?

And replaced Sancho with McGinn to offer protection to Garcia.

Still giving away such a stupidly shitty opening goal was a killer.

[waynejames]

Well that was a flip reverse peformance to the Chelsea game.
Played very well first half and should have been ahead.
Arsenal did turn up the oven a bit second half and we faded which is no shock
UTV!

[Nunkin1965]

All about getting a result at the weekend now.
The chasing pack arent out of 2nd gear really and we've got some tough games out of the way.

[Stu82]

Proud of what we’ve achieved, if you had offered 6 points from last 3 games we’d all have taken it.
First half we should have gone in with a lead. Poor miss by Ollie.
They are a very good team, so no disgrace.
Even the last 10 minutes we kept at it and could have had 2 goals.

Let’s stuff Forest.