Arsenal v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[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.

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.

I did mention that in my list of things that constitute being well run higher up the thread.

[The Edge]

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 .

Exactly. And that's what makes it such a bad decision. The ref should be pulled up for that one but he won't be and you can't appeal a yellow.

[Astnor]

To do a first half as we did without several key players in those circumstances is enormous -proof of what an outstanding manager and cultured team we have. Second half we fell from an aggressive approach from them without protection from solid referring as our lightweight and inexperienced players could not hold on still we did fight back even with academy players. The Arse players celebrated like wild (see fx Gabriel in second half blocking shot from Rogers with his head to give a away a corner).

[Rigadon]

Gabriel is a right ****** isn’t he.  It’ll be hilarious when they bottle the league again. 

[wolfman999]

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 .

Exactly. And that's what makes it such a bad decision. The ref should be pulled up for that one but he won't be and you can't appeal a yellow.

Morgs picked up another cheap one against Chelsea when he was wrestled to the ground with the Chelsea player having both arms round him yet HE gets booked. With only 5 cards before  a suspension, you can lose players pretty easily.

[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.

I did mention that in my list of things that constitute being well run higher up the thread.

Fair. I just don’t think these rules can be disregarded as a check on ambition. We and other clubs would have to be run perfectly from top to bottom, consistently compete in the CL and win things for a couple of decades to catch up with teams who don’t have PSR concerns.

[RamboandBruno]

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.

I think it was more the not shaking Artetas hand at the end, that caught the eye of the media coverage. Emery pointed out in a roundabout way that he’s not going to wait around whilst the other manager celebrates with his team. His view is you congratulate/commiserate with the opposing manager first.

[ChicagoLion]

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.

I think it was more the not shaking Artetas hand at the end, that caught the eye of the media coverage. Emery pointed out in a roundabout way that he’s not going to wait around whilst the other manager celebrates with his team. His view is you congratulate/commiserate with the opposing manager first.

Protocol is to shake then celebrate but as they have won the league in December you can understand Arteta lack of grace.

[Baldy]

Not nice to lose but I think most of us expected it due to the quality not available to us on the day. Plenty of positives yesterday though:

1) With the squad temporary depleted, better to lose to top of the league than a game we are expected to win.
2) Cash and Kamara got a much needed rest.
3) Blooded new players.
4) Two Arsenal games out the way and only reached halfway point of the season.
5) Chelsea and Man Utd had a nightmare and show no signs of improving.
6) Title talk binned which reduces pressure.
7) Man City will win league anyway which will really fuck Arses off.
Our players will be really focused on beating Forest and getting back on track. Unai won't accept anything less.

Not nice but not bad.

[Stu]

I think most of us would have taken a win at Chelsea and a loss at Arsenal over a draw at both. It’s disappointing but not _that_ disappointing given the larger context.

[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.

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.

I did mention that in my list of things that constitute being well run higher up the thread.

Fair. I just don’t think these rules can be disregarded as a check on ambition. We and other clubs would have to be run perfectly from top to bottom, consistently compete in the CL and win things for a couple of decades to catch up with teams who don’t have PSR concerns.

Disagree. Mainly because we are already doing better than clubs without PSR concerns (Chelsea, Manure, Spurs) despite not consistently competing in the CL or having those decades of winning things.

[martyn ellis]

Anyone have any idea what Onana's injury was. At first when he was sitting down I thought it was a head injury, but not sure. As he walked off at half time there was nothing visibly obvious. Anyone know?

[Ads]

Better side first half, should have taken our chances.

An Onana shaped chasm in the midfield in the second half. We cannot carry that hole without Kamara and Onana against a side as good as they are. Felt the score flattered them really, but well beaten in the end.

The nippers coming on summed up the zoomed out picture between a side that has had to reintergrate a player like Buendia who the manager didn't want and who spent £30m net (poorly on Guessand) and one that had spent £250m net on top of the other £210m since Emery took over.

If we zoom that lens further and reflect some more; we're a smidge away from 40 at the turn. We likely need another 26 points to guarantee top 5. We should motor past that; what an achievement it is to date and what it will be.

Then come the reckoning we can all make use of Man City's title lifting to nip onto the tram back onto Manchester a little less burdened, with Champions League football secured and a trophy in the cabinet come our return to Istanbul.

[brontebilly]

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.

Unai came across a bit petulant really. Saying he was cold wasn't far off the dog ate my homework excuse. Likely a bit of previous there with Arsenal, as you say he certainly didn't hold back when we won a few weeks back.

Trawling through the wreckage of that defeat last night, I think there were some positives and Emery will think the same. Onana's display, Watkins scoring again, Garcia and a couple of kids getting a taste for it. Cash and Kamara back instantly improve us for Saturday.

[Monty]

Unai's a gent, and he expects gent-like conduct from his opposite numbers, especially a fellow euskaldun. Arteta's job is to make straight for him to shake his hand, particularly as a) the victor and b) the home manager. He is, however, in his soul a grotty little oik. No nobility of spirit. Unai was quite within his rights to bolt for his bovril.