what an awful game from everyone. Even Wenger's subs made no sense. Our two center backs were solid, most of the time. The rest of the team weren't even awake when playing. What a horrible tie, now we are even with Man Utd.
Abbreviated match report http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2895671.stm Selected quote: "Hard-working Villa made life tough for the Gunners, but Arsene Wenger's side curiously failed to spark into life on a pivotal day in the title race."
The result was probably a fair one, though Toure's self-inflicted wound could have been avoided. Cygan had plenty of space to whack the ball clear, but clammed up and chested it toward goal. Toure, all exuberance, was there to hammer it home. Credit to Stuart Taylor for keeping out a few lightning strikes out up to that point. He had a great game. I hate to say it, but our attack seemed to crash at the 18 yard line with Dennis back in. He waved his magic wand a few times, but to no avail. Freddie was the sole attacker today. Henry only had one shot that I can remember, a hopeful turn from outside the box that looped over the bar. Vieria looked tired (granted, he has shown signs of godliness in recent matches), but Gilberto showed a new side. He took the licks, fought hard in tight spaces, and charged forward to create the only goal.
What is wrong with this team and corners? They always seem to look terribly shaky. I laughed at the difficulty with the corner before the goal, and right then I knew they would give one up. Big suprise: Cygan played a significant role in it. Wenger is an excellent manager, but he flushed the CL and now maybe the Premiership down the tubes when he sold Upson.
I don't think it's fair to blame Wenger for the CL and late season problems. Yes, Upson could have helped, but how could they essentially sleepwalk through the first half, knowing they needed a win to keep pace? I just hope that Cole's return to the starting eleven and Keown getting back will make the defence as strong as it has been all season. I also hope that this will serve as a wake-up call that you can't allow a team like Villa, who is fighting for their lives, to hang around the whole match. Of course, I've said this before, and we're still level on points with the damn Mancs!
Re: Re: EPL: Aston Villa v. Arsenal [R] I don't understand how anyone could fault Bergkamp for today. Freddie knocked in a wild one, but that pass from Dennis that he whiffed on was beautiful, and would have been the difference. chicago-fan wrote: "I hate to say it, but our attack seemed to crash at the 18 yard line with Dennis back in. He waved his magic wand a few times, but to no avail. Freddie was the sole attacker today."
The EPL is pretty much down to the Man U game me thinks. How they beat Liverpool surprised me but L'Pool didn't have Owen. Hopefully NewCastle will give them a run for their money. Our lads have will have to take care of themselves and beat Southampton. Then the big game @ Highbury!
The Toure and Cygan comedy defending show in town again. A sad, sad goal to give away. I have no idea what Wenger waited so long to bring Cole on anyway, Toure looked shattered from about 60 minutes onwards. Vieira and Henry weren't really in the game, Bergkamp, Ljungberg and Silva were our main attacking threats. Two big games coming up in the next 10 days, a cup final and three points at home to the Mancs should see us to the double double. Cole looks like he'll be available, but if Keown isn't about for the United match, I think we can kiss the title goodbye.
Well, Hyppia's 4th minute red card and the subsequent substitution of Baros really killed Liverpool's hopes. What gets me is that we're ahead only on goal differential but the scum put in 4 yesterday. We are going to need a big giant push to end this season with some silverware, and that's pretty disappointing.
In damn near every game they have lost lately, I can point out at least one Cygan error that lead to a goal. If Upson was in there, I'm sure he would be doing a better job. What the hell was Cygan thinking on that corner anyway? OK, here's the deal: Cygan to ManUre for two pairs of socks. You think they'll go for it?
But at the same time, I think it's safe to say Wenger has made some questionable subs at some interesting times.
F***ing pathetic! This Arsenal team has more draws than the last two or three seasons combined. Villa is a damn relegation candidate. This has been a frustrating run lately.
Once again, the ever eloquent man from Kentucky sums up how I feel, perfectly. These kinds of results in the Champ's League are things that I can deal with. I don't like them, but I can live with them, because I see the domestic trophies as more valuable, but when we get Champ's League results in the EPL, it staggers the mind. It harkens back to the days when, as Hornby put it, our team "would huff and puff it's way to a nil-nil or 1-1 draw." Time to take stock indeed. Vive le AFC! OPArsenal