Arsenal v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Nev]

Haven't heard the word "depleted" much in relation to us. Funny that.

[eye digress]

I share the view that losing Onana was a game changer for us - or rather, it was the Bouba booking vs Chelsea. We can do without one, but not both. The Bogarde/Garcia selection decision was probably justified based on Garcia’s second half performance, but as anticipated, we were then left with too few options in centre midfield.

Thought we were terrific first 25 mins, and really should have gone in at half time a goal to the good.

Then things went tits up.

Nonetheless, I liked that we kept our heads and plugging away, playing our football. We looked in the last 15 minutes like we were preparing the Forest game. I liked that we forced a goal, that we blooded a couple of (very tidy) kids. We were beaten for sure, but not bowed.

UTV!

[JUAN PABLO]

Disappointing drop-off in the second-half.

It wasn't the reason we lost but Merino should have received a second yellow and walked - the ref was also poor.

The Morgan Rogers booking was atrocious. He just stood there and the Arsenal player threw the ball in front of him then kicked the ball straight into his legs. Rogers could do nothing about it. Appalling decision.

and took the free kick nowhere near where it was.  He moved it on 5 yards .

[Percy McCarthy]

A game too far and excactly why PSR is a problem.  Fcuk everyone.

Problem solved then. It finishes next season doesn’t it?

Seriously, we’re about the twelfth richest club in the world, with one of the very best managers, in competition with clubs who are allowed the same number of players in the first team squad.

The PSR blaming is wearing thin with me. Player sales, the academy, scouting and recruitment can overcome it, otherwise we’d be below Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and Manure.

I'm not sure about that last line to be honest.  Whilst I accept that we have spent a reasonable amount of money over the past couple of seasons and have not spent it that wisely in some cases, PSR restrictions have meant that we haven't been able to bring in the type of quality players needed to take us up to that next level.

I’m not sure what it is in the last line you’re not sure about? If PSR stops us doing better than clubs with higher revenue, how are we doing better than clubs with higher revenue?

[London Villan]

They did the Pep, kick the ball 5 yards after every free kick too. If a player touches the ball after the ref has whistled it should be a card.

[eye digress]

It’s not quite so binary though is it, Percy?

Not that I disagree with your broader point (there’s a food chain, and though we are not at its apex, we’re pretty high up!).

[Percy McCarthy]

It’s not quite so binary though is it, Percy?

Not that I disagree with your broader point (there’s a food chain, and though we are not at its apex, we’re pretty high up!).

Binary? I feel like I’m bringing nuance to the simple assertion that less revenue=can’t compete.

I just think that when you can afford to buy and pay the wages of 25 of the best footballers in the world, as we can, and have them developed, coached and instructed by one of the best managers in the world plus his 26 hand-picked coaches, and have them supplemented by an academy for which there is no limit on fees paid for the best prospects, or investment in facilities, we should be able to compete with clubs with higher revenue. I submit the Premier League table, the Europa league table and last season’s Champions League table as exhibits A, B & C.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Haven't heard the word "depleted" much in relation to us. Funny that.

I’ve just listened to the 5 Live debrief podcast which initially went with a Declan Riceless Arsenal beat Villa 4-1. It took Clinton Morrison, of all people, to mention that we were without suspended players and the game changed with Onana going off.

[Beard82]

I think PSR is perfectly valid - we are doing amazing despite the restrictions PSR places on us. 

It makes it harder to compete because you need a squad of 22 players at a similar level and we probably only have 16. 

We’re doing better than most of them because we’re doing everything else right - whereas a lot of the clubs were doing better than are simply not as well ran as we are

[wolfman999]

Now the dust has settled, we were always going to lose eventually and 6/9 from the three games over Christmas is a pretty good return. Just got to win the next eleven. UTV HAPPY New Year!

[Percy McCarthy]

I think PSR is perfectly valid - we are doing amazing despite the restrictions PSR places on us. 

It makes it harder to compete because you need a squad of 22 players at a similar level and we probably only have 16. 

We’re doing better than most of them because we’re doing everything else right - whereas a lot of the clubs were doing better than are simply not as well ran as we are

So you’re saying being well run can overcome the disadvantages of having less revenue?

I think we agree.

[PaulWinch again]

Now the dust has settled, we were always going to lose eventually and 6/9 from the three games over Christmas is a pretty good return. Just got to win the next eleven. UTV HAPPY New Year!

The return over the November/December period has been exceptionally good. Last night was disappointing, mainly because we had got so much right in the first half and an injury really knackered us. But it shouldn’t colour how well we’ve done and the key bit is how we respond. We’re not going to do another insane winning run, but we don’t need to. We just need to get back on track.

[Stu]

I think PSR is perfectly valid - we are doing amazing despite the restrictions PSR places on us. 

It makes it harder to compete because you need a squad of 22 players at a similar level and we probably only have 16. 

We’re doing better than most of them because we’re doing everything else right - whereas a lot of the clubs were doing better than are simply not as well ran as we are

So you’re saying being well run can overcome the disadvantages of having less revenue?

I think we agree.

The stars have to align completely though. Being well run isn’t enough, lots of other teams are well run. A club also needs a genius for a manager, which we’re lucky to have.

[Mister E]

The return over the November/December period has been exceptionally good. Last night was disappointing, mainly because we had got so much right in the first half and an injury really knackered us.

I agree, and the ref didn't help, but I'll repeat something I said above: I think Arteta had set his team up to match our pace in the first half, fully expecting a tougher second half. Credit due to Legohead, I think he got it right on the night, even if the first goal was 'lucky' in that Martinez gifted it, thus setting them on their way.

[The Edge]

Special mention for Unai to disappear down the tunnel and not shake that wankers hand, was brilliant.
Celebrating like he’d won the league every goal and at FT, fuck him. As much as I hate 115, I’d prefer them to win it than that cnut and shit fans.

I can't stand Arteta but I don't think Unai can criticise him for over celebrating a goal after he threw his coat in the air when we got the winner against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago.