Just when you thought it was safe to relax and look towards challenging for the title, somehow Arsenal contrive to lose for the
second time at home this season. The truth is the team never really looked like
beating a strong Aston Villa side.
In his programme notes Arsene Wenger said:
second time at home this season. The truth is the team never really looked like
beating a strong Aston Villa side.
In his programme notes Arsene Wenger said:
"I believe that the team has learnt tremendously from our earlier disappointments this season, and complacency is not a danger when you face Villa because they are a good team, and are fifth in the league."
You wonder if he actually showed the notes to the players because complacency
was the undoing of the team against Villa.
On a high after the win against Manchester United and the kids' performance against Wigan in the week, Arsenal fans and players were buoyant once again. The crowd expected the players to concentrate on a game which is arguably, the fight for the crucial last Champions League spot, even at this stage of the season. We all know that Aston Villa are a strong team, who like to play football at times but can also be very solid.
In truth the crowd didn't help matters, right from the start there was no atmosphere, and Villa's fans could be heard in full voice for most of the game.
It was a bright start for both sides, Ashley Young shot straight at Manuel Almunia in the first minute, and Theo Walcott raced down the right wing and put in a dangerous low cross which Nicklas Bendtner couldn't quite reach, Cesc Fabreags also took a shot from outside the area, which was spilled by the normally reliable Brad Friedel, William Gallas tried to reach the rebound but the referee blew for a foul.
Another foul was almost very costly a few moment later, as Ashley Young tricked his way through in the box and Walcott brought him down, penalty. With Villa's regular penalty taker, Gareth Barry receiving treatment it was the responsibility of Ashley Young to put Villa one up. Almunia guessed right and saved low down to his right, the defence scrambled the ball away.
This was lucky escape but they didn't seem to learn from it, Steve Sidwell, a former Arsenal youth team product, was unmarked as he shot inside the area, lucky for Arsenal it was straight at Almunia.
It was 0-0 at half-time but although Arsenal had a few chances during the first period, Villa were looking more likely to score.
After the break, Vila continued to cross the ball into dangerous areas, but Almunia was up to the task and was proving a menace to Villa's attack.
Wenger decided to change the shape of the side, as he brought on Emmanuel Adebayor in 61st minute for Abou Diaby, who had been playing as the second striker and then replaced Nicklas Bendtner, who hadn't had the most productive afternoon, with Carlos Vela, star of the midweek mauling of Wigan.
Within minutes of Vela's introduction, Villa were one-nil up. With Bacary Sagna lying injured in the Villa half, Ashley Young burst down the Villa left, and with no right-back Gallas had to cover, Young whipped in a dangerous cross and Gael Clichy, who had Gabriel Agbonlahor behind him, headed into his own net.
Agbonlahor raced off and celebrated in front of the Arsenal fans, which apparently is a yellow
card offence, but was not punished by Mike Riley on this occasion.
Sagna left the field on a stretcher and was replaced by Kolo Toure in 70th minute.
Adebayor had a guilt edged chance when Clichy crossed into the box and the Togolese marksman headed the ball into the ground, it bounced up and hit the outside of the post.
Arsenal were starting to find their feet and Carlos Vela ran through the Vila defence and was brought down on the edge of the box, with Arsenal fans shouting for what looked like a certain
foul, Riley played on and Villa's clearance was fortunate enough to find Agbonlahor who held off Gallas' challenge to head down and hit a low shot past Almunia. Again the England under-21 raced off to the corner and celebrated in front of the fans, he was mobbed by the Villa players and seemed to stay there for an age. As he slowly walked back tot the centre circle Riley booked him.
Arsenal were now facing their fourth defeat of the season, and the crowd and players didn't seem to believe there was any way back.
The game petered out and Aston Villa, deservedly had earned three points to move level on points with their opponents.
Arsenal deserved what they got, and you may say this is sour grapes, but i hope the referees sort out their inconsistencies in booking and decisions it's slowly ruining the game, rant over!
was the undoing of the team against Villa.
On a high after the win against Manchester United and the kids' performance against Wigan in the week, Arsenal fans and players were buoyant once again. The crowd expected the players to concentrate on a game which is arguably, the fight for the crucial last Champions League spot, even at this stage of the season. We all know that Aston Villa are a strong team, who like to play football at times but can also be very solid.
In truth the crowd didn't help matters, right from the start there was no atmosphere, and Villa's fans could be heard in full voice for most of the game.
It was a bright start for both sides, Ashley Young shot straight at Manuel Almunia in the first minute, and Theo Walcott raced down the right wing and put in a dangerous low cross which Nicklas Bendtner couldn't quite reach, Cesc Fabreags also took a shot from outside the area, which was spilled by the normally reliable Brad Friedel, William Gallas tried to reach the rebound but the referee blew for a foul.
Another foul was almost very costly a few moment later, as Ashley Young tricked his way through in the box and Walcott brought him down, penalty. With Villa's regular penalty taker, Gareth Barry receiving treatment it was the responsibility of Ashley Young to put Villa one up. Almunia guessed right and saved low down to his right, the defence scrambled the ball away.
This was lucky escape but they didn't seem to learn from it, Steve Sidwell, a former Arsenal youth team product, was unmarked as he shot inside the area, lucky for Arsenal it was straight at Almunia.
It was 0-0 at half-time but although Arsenal had a few chances during the first period, Villa were looking more likely to score.
After the break, Vila continued to cross the ball into dangerous areas, but Almunia was up to the task and was proving a menace to Villa's attack.
Wenger decided to change the shape of the side, as he brought on Emmanuel Adebayor in 61st minute for Abou Diaby, who had been playing as the second striker and then replaced Nicklas Bendtner, who hadn't had the most productive afternoon, with Carlos Vela, star of the midweek mauling of Wigan.
Within minutes of Vela's introduction, Villa were one-nil up. With Bacary Sagna lying injured in the Villa half, Ashley Young burst down the Villa left, and with no right-back Gallas had to cover, Young whipped in a dangerous cross and Gael Clichy, who had Gabriel Agbonlahor behind him, headed into his own net.
Agbonlahor raced off and celebrated in front of the Arsenal fans, which apparently is a yellow
card offence, but was not punished by Mike Riley on this occasion.
Sagna left the field on a stretcher and was replaced by Kolo Toure in 70th minute.
Adebayor had a guilt edged chance when Clichy crossed into the box and the Togolese marksman headed the ball into the ground, it bounced up and hit the outside of the post.
Arsenal were starting to find their feet and Carlos Vela ran through the Vila defence and was brought down on the edge of the box, with Arsenal fans shouting for what looked like a certain
foul, Riley played on and Villa's clearance was fortunate enough to find Agbonlahor who held off Gallas' challenge to head down and hit a low shot past Almunia. Again the England under-21 raced off to the corner and celebrated in front of the fans, he was mobbed by the Villa players and seemed to stay there for an age. As he slowly walked back tot the centre circle Riley booked him.
Arsenal were now facing their fourth defeat of the season, and the crowd and players didn't seem to believe there was any way back.
The game petered out and Aston Villa, deservedly had earned three points to move level on points with their opponents.
Arsenal deserved what they got, and you may say this is sour grapes, but i hope the referees sort out their inconsistencies in booking and decisions it's slowly ruining the game, rant over!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment