Ratings & Reactions: Arsenal v Villa

[est1874]

[Delphinho123]

9 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

I actually really enjoyed that. Fair play to both of them. 

[Herman22]

The formation and shape seemed to work well yesterday. We know Arsenal will play out from the back so we pushed 4 players up onto their back 4 making them go back to the keeper and eventually kick long. I think the position Barkley took up suits him so well. Almost playing as a No 10 when we have the ball but dropping back into midfield when we don't. I wasn't convinced when we signed him but he was everywhere yesterday. 

A special mention too for Watkins. Yes he scored the two goals but his hold up play is as good as I've seen a striker in a villa shirt. When we were in trouble the ball was hit at him and he held on to it and got us up the field. 

You could make a claim for anyone to be MOTM yesterday. Everyone put in a shift and we do look a different proposition than last season. We are solid at the back, bit of class in midfield and real goal threat.

I'm not getting ahead of myself......but, I think we could win the Champions League this season. 

[The Fun Factory]

I just keep thinking back to 2016 in our last game of the season when we were already relegated and got hammered 4-0 by the Arsenal. 

That know feels a long, long time ago.

[villaglint]

So which was the best goal for us last night?

I really like the first one because it was so measured and patient. Barkley, Grealish and Targett knew they were in but it was important they didn't rush it. Trez with the great back post run and putting to bed those misses against Southampton. 

Second is fantastic all round. Cash clearing up the clearance and rather than just humping it back in he gets his head up and finds Dougie. Everyone could see the run Barkley had made but most of us couldn't play the pass to that degree of accuracy given a 100 tries. if that pass was outstanding Barkleys volley is then somehow even better. Probably take me a 1000 goes to do that maybe 2000 on my left peg! Ollie then getting another of those "tap ins". 

The third goal, fantastic take from Martinez from the high cross. We've quickly forgotten Nyland and the shaky hands under the high ball. See an opportunity to find Grealish early in a bit of space. Grealish then decides to show he can match Rashford for lung bursting pace and runs the length of the pitch. Bellerin is floundering and realises he needs to take Jack out. He ends up just bouncing off him. Perfectly weighted through ball. Watkins has timed his run perfectly and find a low and hard finish through the legs of the Arsenal keeper. 

Think I'd go for 2, 3, 1 but it's a pretty tough decision. 

[TheStagMan]

41 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

I actually really enjoyed that. Fair play to both of them. 

The guy on the right seems a little emotional.

 

I think the only person more angry about the result is the entire Small Heath forum.

Edited November 9, 2020 by TheStagMan

[John]

11 hours ago, robby b said:

Aston Villa are back !

I think that's probably the first time we've beaten Arsenal by more than two goals in the league in my lifetime! (And 'I'm no spring chicken'). And have we just won the first three away league games of the season for the first time in our history?! I was gutted when we went 2-0 and then 3-0 down against Leeds and then even more at 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0 against the Saints, but now to have five wins from our first seven sounds pretty good!  : )

Depends how young you are. We did beat them 5-1 at Villa Park in 1979.  I remember it well....

[villalad21]

We are actually quite good

[Nigel]

10 hours ago, Davkaus said:

Absolute nonsense, Barkley was almost perfectly between the keeper and Mcginn.

 

 

Not from what I saw!

Motd even swung the camera around to lenos exact view, at no point was the actual ball hidden from view.

[It's Your Round]

On reflection, I still think McGinn’s goal should have stood. Luckily it didn’t matter in the end, but I’d have been fuming if that cost us the win. 

[John]

12 hours ago, KMitch said:

At the start of the season, I just asked to not have our entire next season depend on the final game of this season, once again...  Unfortunately, I think that if things continue the way they've been going, it's entirely possible to end up in a "must win" game against Chelsea at Villa Park this season to end up in the Europa League next year.  

Or we could already have qualified for another shot at the first trophy, or even have won the second one by then. 

 

[John]

12 hours ago, TRO said:

Loved the "All Blacks" kit

Last night Jack, Ollie and the rest of the lads, were the: 

Edited November 9, 2020 by John

[villalad21]

Thought Fatazette was awful 

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

10 minutes ago, Nigel said:

Not from what I saw!

Motd even swung the camera around to lenos exact view, at no point was the actual ball hidden from view.

Then you think how do they allow West Hams goal to stand. Haller miles offside, defender heads clear just incase then it lands to a WH shirt and directly leads to a goal. Whereas Barkley isnt interfering, Leno cannot save it regardless, but that gets chalked off. 

[AJ]

10 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

This is hilarious.

That guy is just so salty.

[robby b]

1 hour ago, John said:

Depends how young you are. We did beat them 5-1 at Villa Park in 1979.  I remember it well....

Ah! Thanks. In that case, I'm wrong, yesterday wasn't the first time we've beaten Arsenal by more than two goals in a league game in my lifetime. But no wonder I didn't know this as I was born in 73.

Edited November 9, 2020 by robby b

[Pez1974]

13 hours ago, villalad21 said:

I thought McGinn played much more disciplined today.

He doesn't need to play as a second striker. Play like a proper midfielder and this team can do wonders.

Absolutely this.

Watching the highlights on MOTD2 (first up again, and genuine praise!), I was surprised to see how often it was Luiz arriving from midfield on the counter, meaning McGinn was holding. They're really getting their shit together and gives us a great shape and an element of unpredictability. 

[AntrimBlack]

33 minutes ago, robby b said:

Ah! Thanks. In that case, I'm wrong, yesterday wasn't the first time we've beaten Arsenal by more than two goals in a league game in my lifetime. But no wonder I didn't know this as I was born in 73.

Well, that's no excuse. 

[villalad21]

12 minutes ago, Pez1974 said:

Absolutely this.

Watching the highlights on MOTD2 (first up again, and genuine praise!), I was surprised to see how often it was Luiz arriving from midfield on the counter, meaning McGinn was holding. They're really getting their shit together and gives us a great shape and an element of unpredictability. 

I absolutely love when Luiz is going forward.

He seems to love it as well.

Maybe one day we will get another proper DM and Luiz can move into a more advanced role. Luiz is just a wonderful footballer that has so much more to his game than just protecting the back 4.

Edited November 9, 2020 by villalad21

[robby b]

How strange that we've not conceded a single goal in our three away games but have conceded nine in the four home games! : s  I wonder if this isn't just due to Fulham and Arsenal playing badly against us and Leeds and Saints playing so well, or us being so good on the counter this season, but also partly to do with no home advantage from fans anymore. But on the other hand a few of you have pointed out on here that neither do the players have the extra pressure and stress that can come from their home fans. So who knows?! I guess it may also partly be a bit of a freak occurrence, a strange coincidence.

 

Edited November 9, 2020 by robby b