Sunday 8 November 2020 Ashburton Grove USA “TV”: NBC Peacock 2:15pm ET We’re on a good little run... 3 wins against small, medium & large teams. Kudos to Arteta in righting the ship after the tactical failure against Brendan’s Leicester. And when I wrote in the Molde thread that we “welcome” Villa Sunday, I was thinking they should be a bankable 4th win. But I was conveniently forgetting how well they’ve started this season compared to how they flirted with yo-yo relegation last season. And how they beat us in the last 2 meetings. Now they sit above us in the table (on GD) with a game in hand. So they’re probably as much of a challenge as any team we’ve faced in the last month. Smith seems a good coach, Grealish their star, Barkley looking to resurrect, Mings solid, and Martinez super motivated to prove himself against us. Expect to see most of our players who were rested after United. I just pray that they show as much industry and urgency as the “second team” showed yesterday, especially in the second half.
We can't take a win against any team for granted, we've beaten the best and slipped up against the rest. One hundred per cent required. Grealish will be a big threat.
I hope some of you will get to watch this match live and comment here in real-time because it's lookin like I won't be able to. COYG!!!!
Villa started strong but have dropped off lately since the smashing of Liverpool they have beaten Leicester 1-0, lost to Leeds 3-0 and lost to Southampton 4-3. Need a big win here and keep things ticking along. Hoping for 2-0 or 3-0.
Same lineup as Old Trafford. If the attack doesn't work, don't fix it. Willock rewarded with his Europa League performances by not making the bench.
Goal disallowed. Lucky there. If Barkley was not offside, Leno would still never have had a chance at the save.
Mistake by Villa defense led to a chance for Partey, shot straight into Emi. Good pressing from Thomas.
Fantastic interception from Partey, sends it out deep to Auba. Crosses in for Willian, shot well over the net. Pretty stop/start for the first 15 minutes.
Goal Villa. Small passing in triangles at the corner of the box. Finally a cross across the box that misses everyone and Trezuguet finishes at the opposite corner of the box.
Looks like it will go down as a Saka own goal. Villa picking on the Arsenal right, Holding in particular. Could say it was against the run of play, they hadn't done much since the first minute.
Tierney with a wonderful cross in to Lacazette but he can't keep it down, just over the bar. That attack was down the left, but Arsenal have been a bit more balanced attacking down the right more often then recent past. Nothing to show for it so far though.
Willian adds nothing to this squad at present, no quality going forward and didn't help Holding on the goal