PL: Aston Villa vs Arsenal | Saturday 6th February | KO: 12:30 UTC | BT Sport

[freeglennhelder2]

I can’t comprehend how many damn times our execution of a pass, cross or key dribble was done badly. This is partly down to Villa admittedly defending in absolute top class fashion (especially Cash and Targett who were superb and blocked everything). But it’s also down to our players underperforming. Partey was poor, Saka was poor, Pepe was meh, ESR was below standard

Agree, main problem was so much poor quality today in the kill zone where it counts most. Partey,Saka,ESR were ok not poor I’d say. I’m still crying over that Pepe touch when he was through one on one in the box near the end, it’s too soon and too raw to speak about him. He does stuff like that all the time and I really thought he had turned some kind of corner.

 

[al-Ustaadh]

The season is over anyway should at least try get 5 points from next 3 games we need stop losing games

Even before our Chelsea victory I've felt we've been out of the running for top 5, not to mention I always felt like this squad would have another dip anyways. All eggs are in the Europa League basket. I do think we can win it if we cut out our self-harm. The teams that remain in the EL we can beat.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

The season is over anyway should at least try get 5 points from next 3 games we need stop losing games

I've no doubt that we'll try but the three teams coming up are on paper a bit tougher than Villa on paper at least

 

[al-Ustaadh]

Agree, main problem was so much poor quality today in the kill zone where it counts most. Partey,Saka,ESR were ok not poor I’d say. I’m still crying over that Pepe touch when he was through one on one in the box near the end, it’s too soon and too raw to speak about him. He does stuff like that all the time and I really thought he had turned some kind of corner.

The pendulum swung for me from being "maybe Pepe isn't as bad as I thought" to "FFS, Pepe, that's exactly what one of your major issues is, just the ****ing basics sometimes and always in moments of absolute necessity".

 

[Tourbillion]

Even before our Chelsea victory I've felt we've been out of the running for top 5, not to mention I always felt like this squad would have another dip anyways. All eggs are in the Europa League basket. I do think we can win it if we cut out our self-harm. The teams that remain in the EL we can beat.

You think we'd knock Rodgers or Mourinho out of the EL?

 

[dashsnow17]

Not that we should sack off the league entirely, but we have the Benfica game in 12 days time. They should be doing everything to make sure our best team is available for that.

 

[al-Ustaadh]

You think we'd knock Rodgers or Mourinho out of the EL?

Yeah, I do actually. Mourinho is already losing the plot, while Leicester's win over us was a fluke in a lot of ways (not to mention we scored a legal goal in that game that was brought back). We've got to finish our chances though. Our defending right now keeps us in matches, and that's important for European tournaments, we just need to really iron out our attack and find some consistency there.

 

[al-Ustaadh]

Not that we should sack off the league entirely, but we have the Benfica game in 12 days time. They should be doing everything to make sure our best team is available for that.

I've already said this, and I'll say it again but with the caveat that I hope I'm not made to look a fool, but I don't really think Benfica will trouble us. On paper they look like it but they're actually a bit of a shambles.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I've already said this, and I'll say it again but with the caveat that I hope I'm not made to look a fool, but I don't really think Benfica will trouble us. On paper they look like it but they're actually a bit of a shambles.

But also you can't trust us we said the same against Olympiakos before we completely f**k it up

 

[Tourbillion]

There's no planet on which Mourinho doesn't get one over on us when it matters. The ****.

 

[novar]

Checking other places fans are indeed eating up Arteta's words.

If the fanbase is cool with how we play then great, valid opinion to have I guess. Not seeing it but hey most people seem happy or at least content with it.

Time to give up I guess

 

[al-Ustaadh]

But also you can't trust us we said the same against Olympiakos before we completely f**k it up

Apples and oranges comparison. We're a different team now defensively. It's about not being stupid, e.g. Cedric today, and ironing out our attack.

 

[samson]

Partey's passing was terrible today. I know Villa defended well but we really didn't make any clear cut chances. I think Ødegaard's shot at the end was one of our only clear opportunities to score.

 

[DUFFMAN]

That pull on Laca has me convinced more then ever the officials have it in for us.

Was wenger wrong to call them out that time about the world Cup?

 

[Red London]

5-1 on blocked shots.

Their blocks on crosses and passes was the big issue imo.

 

[Red London]

Agree, main problem was so much poor quality today in the kill zone where it counts most. Partey,Saka,ESR were ok not poor I’d say. I’m still crying over that Pepe touch when he was through one on one in the box near the end, it’s too soon and too raw to speak about him. He does stuff like that all the time and I really thought he had turned some kind of corner.

When I say poor I mean for their standards tbh. ESR, Saka and Partey have been 3 of our 5 best players recently. And they all had below standard performances. Maybe I’m being harsh on ESR though.

Partey didn’t really add much, Xhaka had a better game. I think his lack of game time since joining here means he hasn’t fully acclimatised to the league. He’s started less than 10 games for us I think. And now he’s off injured again, it’s been such a frustrating scenario.

Yeah that was frustrating by Pepe, but I think at times during the game he looked like the player most likely to produce something when he was in the box.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

What the point of VAR then. Shouldn't they notice that and told ref go to monitor and check that like in most European top leagues

 

[Batman]

It looks like my strategy of not getting up to watch this paid off. Christ, how far we've fallen.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Their blocks on crosses and passes was the big issue imo.

Mings done some important last ditch blocks the one against ESR was very good because it was on target

 

[roz]

Everyone needs to chill, we’ve been playing great football recently coupled with decent results which was a good indicator to me that we’ve turned a corner.
Our form was derailed intentionally by refereeing and it took its toll today.

Villa are no mugs, put in an excellent performance and got a result, these things happen.

Hopefully Partey’s injury isn’t bad.