Result: Arsenal 0-3 Aston Villa
Competition: Premier League
Date: 8 November 2020
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Elneny, Saka, Willian, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Nketiah
A Bukayo Saka own goal and a second half brace by Ollie Watkins saw Aston Villa rout Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates on a night that leaves Mikel Arteta with many questions to answer.
The Gunners came into the match with the Premier League’s best defensive record but couldn’t shackle Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley who created chances at will for the visitors.
It was a thoroughly miserable evening for the home side who now have a two-week Interlull to chew over this result sitting 11th in the table.
Pre-game
Mikel Arteta kept faith with the same starting XI and squad that beat Manchester United last weekend. In his pre-game chat with Sky Sports, Arteta was asked if it was an easier team selection. He replied: “It’s not simple, the boys are performing well and they are giving me a headache to the last moment.” He went on to add: “We need to put back-to-back wins together now, sustain a good level and be as high as possible up the table.”
First Half
On a wet night in north London, Villa made a start as slick as the Emirates turf. Inside the opening minute, Grealish cut into the box and found McGinn with a cutback and the Scot found the top left corner with a hammer of a finish. Leno was nowhere near the ball but felt his vision was impeded by Barkley. After much complaining, VAR took a look and advised Martin Atkinson to do the same on the pitchside monitor. After a long wait, the referee disallowed the goal. It was a relief, but the reprieve was only temporary.
Much like the game against Leicester, the Gunners had plenty of possession but we struggled to make any real headway. Partey nearly caused Martinez – making his first appearance back at Arsenal – some embarrassment when he closed down the keeper and Willian skied an effort from an Auba cross. That aside it was tepid stuff from Arteta’s men.
For their part, Villa looked very confident on the ball. Grealish and Barkley were playing with a swagger and that was no more apparent than in the build-up to the opening goal on 25 minutes. The England international spent an age toying with us on the left side of our box, teasing Willian and Holding into challenges they didn’t want to make. In the blink of an eye, they upped the pace, a reverse pass by Barkley freed Targett who played a dangerous ball across the six-yard box for Trezeguet at the back post. Saka ended up getting the final touch as the ball nestled past Leno. (0-1)
As the half wore on, we worked decent positions down the flanks and played some dangerous balls into the box, but somehow they were always met by a Villa man. Bellerin was also guilty on a couple of occasions of bad decision-making in the box. Our best, and only noteworthy chance, fell to Lacazette who headed over a brilliant Tierney cross when he should, at least, have tested Martinez. It was the finish of a man who is seriously low on confidence.
Second half
Thomas Partey, was holding his left thigh at times in the first half, was replaced by Dani Ceballos at the break. The Spaniard was very eager to make an impression, constantly demanding the ball from his teammates and trying to up the tempo. He even tried his luck from the edge of the box on 55 minutes with a curling effort that went wide of Martinez’s right post.
In between, Trezeguet stung Leno’s palms and Willian made a hash of a shot after Douglas Luiz headed an Aubameyang cross into his path.
The visitors continued to look the more likely to score again. Barkley and Grealish tore us apart down the left and Leno was forced to produce a great save to stop the latter doubling the visitors’ lead. Soon after Grealish connected with a corner to lash a volley goalwards that Tierney bravely blocked with his chest.
Back came the Gunners. Holding went just wide trying to sweep home a Gabriel pass after both went forward for a corner. We further upped the ante sending on Nketiah and Pepe for the ineffective Willian and Lacazette. The Ivorian didn’t take long to threaten, whipping a trademark left foot curler just wide.
Then, disaster. Villa doubled their lead. Douglas Luiz played a diagonal over the defence, Barkley volleyed a cross to Watkins who headed home on the line. To be fair it was probably deserved. Dean Smith’s men had looked dangerous with every attack. (0-2)
At this point, we were all over the place. Were it not for Ceballos, Grealish might have added to the score inside a minute. The Spaniard made a vital block on the line. It didn’t matter. On 75 minutes, a Villa break saw Grealish play in Watkins who fired through Leno’s legs. (0-3)
Villa coasted through the closing stages as we ran around unsure whether we should push forward and leave ourselves further exposed or just accept the inevitable.
Make no mistake about it, this was, by some distance, the worst performance of Arteta’s 11 months in charge. It’s all the more disappointing coming a week after the hard-fought victory at Manchester United.
If we really are to challenge for a Champions League place, we’re going to have to get a hell of a lot better in the build-up to Christmas.
Embarrassing. No good beating Utd away, then losing to Leicester and Villa at home. Totally outplayed. No fight or desire. Willian and Lacazette poor again. Auba not much better. Villa played like we used to!
Nketiah MOTM?
Nah, that wouldn’t be fair, he was on too long.
It must feel pretty good being Laca and Willian, playing poorly every game but knowing they’ll get in the next starting lineup no matter what.
My word did we take those home bankers under Wenger for granted. Always 20+ shots and probably a scoreline like 3-0. I don’t even remember what it feels watching Arsenal dominate teams in the Premier League.
Fuck this sterile bullshit. The performances against the big 6 have papered over the cracks. We’ve been shite against all other teams in the PL.
Just watched premier league years where Wenger somehow managed to engineer a third place finish with Almunia in goal and an aging Sol Campbell and useless Silvestre as centre backs.
The rest of the league was significantly weaker then so it wasn’t that difficult. In fact back then it was pretty much a 2 team league with only Utd or Chelsea having any chance of winning the league, so finishing third wasn’t much of an achievement at all!!
No John, you are wrong.
No, i’m right
Nah John, you’re very wrong. This is fucked. Soo so f’d up and it appears to be getting worse. It’s so bad that I can’t even give armchair analysis I’m so lost as to how this can be fixed. I don’t like what I’m seeing Arsenal turn into. I don’t want to completely blame the manager. I don’t know if it is only the players either. Everything is so lost it’s like being in the Twilight Zone.
No, i’m very right. In the late 00’s our budget was significantly higher than the 16-17 team below us it wasn’t even fair competition. Top 4 was par for our budget.
Yup Villa team look more expansive to you too …..righttttt….
Sure..you are absolutely…absolutely right…maannnn…
No John. You’re wrong.
Thats a false equivalency. Liverpool and City were nowhere near what they are now but were still great teams and our rivals. Chelseas Totts man u. Thats still a top 6. Infact the teams were all closer in quality back then so you could say it was probably harder then. and the rest of the league wasn’t as good as it is now but there were still quality small sides. This particular season had the Fulham side that beat Juventus over two legs but finished 12th in the league,
Agree
But we are not talking of MU and Chelsea here. 3-0 deserved thrashing at home by Aston Villa? In this game Villa look more like the old Arsenal and we look more like the old Villa. We have undoubtedly more expansive and quality players on paper, but this doesn’t translate on the pitch. Despite this bad performance, Arteta is going to get my benefit of the doubt and I’m still behind him 100%. I remember during Wenger’s time there have been some bad to questionable performance too but his team almost always rebounded back and I hope to see the… Read more »
For all of Artetas tactical nouse, I honestly have no idea how he didn’t change to a three in midfield in the second half. Villa were running rings around us in there. Partey, Mo, and Cellabos were chasing shadows. He surely had to go man for man to try and get some sort of foothold in the game. Villa were ripping through us with ease. We were fortunate it wasn’t 4 or 5. And it really doesn’t sit right with me that we have our best striker out on the left hand side spending the majority of our attacks crossing… Read more »
This team setup is a joke, and Arteta is getting found out time and time again by any manager that bothers to turn up.
Personally I am glad to see this result tonight. That man utd game papered over very serious cracks with the management of this team. It’s 1 league goal in the last 35 days, a penalty, and we only create from pressing and transitions, with aboslutely no fluency or logical formation in attack. Is that good enough when we have one of the best strikers in the world?
Clue, it’s not.
Spot on. Arteta by naming the same XI effectively said go out and play the same. How naive? Home vs Villa could not be any more different from Utd away. Never change a winning team they say. Never my arse. For the CL final Flick benched Perisic for Coman, who went on to score the winner and get motm. How smart was that? Sometimes you need to change the team up, and play who is in form not who has the biggest pay packet. Are you telling me Willock or Pepe from the start would have done worse than that… Read more »
Not even giving Willock a spot on the bench sends completely the wrong message – one that this team is not a meritocracy. ‘You can dig your team out of a hole two weeks in a row but you’ll be watching from the sofa come Sunday son.’ It’s a disgrace.
Correct, Arteta’s non-negotiables don’t appear to be universal and that can’t have gone unnoticed. He’s got to get a grip on the team selection, as per results and performances Willian and Lacazette should not be starting automatically.
They run round alot doing nothing but looking tired while they run around alot and faff about on the ball.
Spot on
I don’t think Willock or Pepe would have done any better with the formation and tempo we’re playing with
Agreed, it’s far from the biggest issue. That being, every attack ending with Auba on the touchline attempting to cross the ball for Lacazette, before getting crowded out and passing backwards.
You don’t see their lighting CF out there with chalk on his boots do you? Not in a million years. Ollie Watkins is right up top giving Holding nightmares and bagging himself another two goals.
I’m tearing my hair out here, what the hell is Arteta playing at? Again and again, teams turn up, double team laca and we have less penetration than a wet courgette.
The game plan is over complicated.
Watching the game we have Tierney, Saka, Bellerin and Auba all trying to play multiple roles/positions all at the same time and not only is it not working, it’s working against us
Arteta is trying to be too clever
I think this is the case..He is over complicating very simple things. Especially when we don’t have the personnel to do what he envisions.
Well of course we’re not creating anything because we’re constantly asking our two centre midfielders to deal with being out numbered every single game. Any opposing manager now just plays a 3, 2 players out of that 3 mark our midfielders out of the game, and then their spare man cuts out the passing lanes — and that’s us — we’re done. Moyes, Rodgers, Klopp, Guardiola, and now Smith have figured out that’s how you cause us problems. The only guy dumb enough to match us in a midfield two was Solsjkaer (no surprises there) Some serious questions for Mikel… Read more »
Arteta for some reason believes that Laca is Firmino. Even then Liverpool still play a 3.
His tactical ‘nouse’ doesn’t seem to extend to looking dangerous in possesion and opening up the opposition. Organised we may be but also one of (if not ‘the’) worst attacking teams in the league. Not an exaggeration. And its not whoever we play in midfield. It’s a static front three, two of whom shouldn’t be playing and the third playing in a position where our best player (saka) should be. This is mostly on arteta. He’s coached any individuality out of them. Any freedom. Any instinct. The movement is so structured and repetive that it’s so obvious and easy to… Read more »
Tactical mouse.
Mikey Mouse
It wasn’t even about adding the third man in midfield to try and get us to be more creative, firstly it was simply to try and get a grip on Villas midfield dominance.
It was fundamentally a defensive alteration. Sure it would’ve made us better going forward because we’d have an extra option to use, but that would be a subsequence. I mean surely he was able to spot that — right?
It doesn’t make sense to me either having Auba out on the left.
A coach who gave a lame ass excuse for removing the most creative player we had, not being able to get the best out of a fearsome attacking trio, and seems out of ideas to create any goal chances from midfield.. and too stubborn to change his useless formation… I see nothing much there except the talk..and I have no expectations for this season. We would be lucky to be in top 8 going by the performances so far !
If you say Ozil isn’t hardworking enough and these players are giving their everything, you are just pretending !
Ozil is far better than this useless willian
Ozil was the best out of all of them.
Careful mate.
Home truths like that on this page will send your thumbs down soaring through the roof.
Yeah but Willian runs arrraand a lot.
Effort with out productivity. Efforts don’t count it’s results that matters
It was ironic buddy..
Does he. I constantly saw Bellerin being 2vs 1 and eventually being toasted by Grealish or Watkins.
Ssshhhh Bellerin keeps getting better and better
At least we still had the option to use Ozil last season.
I hate Ozil arguments, but he is better than Willian. why even sign Willian? Makes no sense to me. I’d rather start Pepe, Willock, or Nelson in that position this year…
What fearsome attacking trio exactly?
The one of Watkins, Trezeguet and Grealish of course.
I’d take 2 of them in a heartbeat.
And arteta would stick them on the bench!
Ha ha ha
More like Watkins at left wing back and Grealish omitted from the PL squad
No, he would omit them from the PL list.
I like Arteta a lot – and I can see what he is trying to achieve – but his decision to ostracise Ozil (yes, I know, it’s over, it’s boring, move on, blah blah blah but the fact remains our midfield creativity is still shite) is coming back to bite him on the backside, big time.
I warned about this months ago and was ridiculed on here for my trouble.
Ozil created a mighty two assists last year and has been bang average for the past few years – if you tnink hes the answer you’re just pretending!
Hes not the answer but neither is fucking Willian. Nobody is saying Ozil is the answer there saying in a team that hasn’t created shit all season maybe that guy who earns over a quarter mil a week could maybe be an option to at least try there. Also the games Ozil played pre covid weren’t fantastic by any means and his stats were low but the team was playing alot better than it is now. I think Elneny and Partey would massively improve Ozils contribution
A midfield of Partey, Elneny, and Ozil would make all the difference–but only if you trust our centre halfs to play in a true four.
So – with the exception of Auba and Martinez – who else has been anything other than bang average in the last two years – under Emery and now Arteta…..? 🤣
Stats clearly prove that in the calendar year 2020, Ozil, in the few games that he played, has been the most creative player of this team, even though he didn’t play in his favourite role and didn’t play with the freedom that was usually afforded to No. 10s. Multiple people have pointed this out on this forum many times. It’s one thing to be critical of someone and another to turn blind. I am all in favour of benching Ozil and not including him in the team since he doesn’t fit the new system. But to not have the most… Read more »
The direction English football is taking sometimes feels sad to me. In some of these teams, Messi would be benched because he doesn’t do his defensive duties and Ronaldo will be shunned because he is too selfish.
I agree. This high pressing bollocks with every cunt chasing about like a tit in a trance is boring as fuck.
Players like Bergkamp, Brady and – surprise, surprise, Mesut Ozil – wouldn’t get a look in.
This two cost us tonight. A lot of games this season will be decided in a few key moments. We can’t afford these passengers to keep getting starts. It’s enough now.
These two have showed a deterioration in form since Fulham.
Arteta should have spotted this and made the necessary changes. Two stinking horrible performances. And we all saw it coming.
Arteta has to hate Laca, but what’s most worrying is Arteta isn’t telling these players that they’re monsters. His focus is on tactics, Looking at Liverpool I know Klopp infuses evil into his soldiers, work on them from the inside. Mane will bite you. It’s what Martinez woulda done to his teammates, what I’m sure he’s doing to that AV team , pointed out to them the specific ways they’re monsters. Tierney looks a wrongly motivated player, a player like him can’t produce their best unless it comes from a very comfortable place. On the Liverpool game immediately Mane harrases… Read more »
Well, if we don’t do something pdq, we’re stuffed. That’s not being negative, that’s a fact.
The intensity of the games so far this season is just insane. I’m not making excuses but what the fuck is going on here? Apart from Fulham, it’s been absolutely nuts.
And how is Willock not coming off the bench when we need a goal after Thursday’s performance?
This season is could go anywhere for us.
For once, I agree with you. On the basis of this performance, everyone deserve to be negative. I can’t recall a single positive from the game. Arteta got plenty to think and worry about in the next 10 days.
I hope to see the team rebounded or at least produced an acceptable result in the next match.
Arteta has made some very bad decisions. Willian is awful, Lacazette is done, elneny is Elneny there’s a surprise, nketia is just not good enough, Leno would never have caught ball and moved it as fast as Martinez did and Martinez distribution is on another level to Leno. And he takes partey off at half time. Top all that with he drops the most creative player we have, Ozil walks into this team at the moment whether you like him or not.
I was thinking exactly that when martinez did that. Thought leno would’ve stayed on his line and if he came and got it he would’ve held it until everyone was in front of him (sorry, I really should move on from this but still makes me angry every time I get reminded we got rid of our better keeper)
Did you notice their first goal?
A misplaced pass from the rather Lackadaisical and uninspiring Williams led to their counters that resulted in the goal
Well. Shit!
Arteta OUT NOW🤔
Willian absolutely, but truth be told, have any of our strikers actually been better than Lacazette? Aubameyang playing like he deserves to be on the bench while Nketiah huffs and he puffs but has pretty much zero end product.
Willian especially. Just faffs about looking decent on the ball but does nothing.
I wish we had Ollie Watkins and Jack Grealish instead.
I wish we had a front three of Saka on the left, Auba central, Pepe on the right and Ozil behind them in a diamond.
Still, there you go. Barely into November and defeat No.4. I guess that’s us out of the title race then. 🤣
Or Saka where he is and Martanelli LW and Pepe RW
Its negligence not even to attempt it in a Europa game.
Aubameyang should play down the middle for the rest of the season. Laca and Eddie are not good enough. I hope I don’t see willian again. I haven’t seen any passion from him that you know you would get from Nelson or the same skill level you get from Pepe. Talked up Bellerin before the match yet Villa had a field day down his side although you could look at the lack of help from his winger. Martinez had absolutely nothing to do, may as well have been back on our bench probably felt that way for him. Total dross,… Read more »
How much longer can he allow Lacazette and Willian to let us down.
I was one of those people who thought Willian would be a shrewd signing. always thought he was consistently underrated for what he delivered at Chelsea.
How bloody wrong was I?
Don’t worry. It was only a 3 year contract.
🤣🤣🤣
I think you’re wrong, still think Lacazette is worse and Aubameyang playing on the wing are bigger problems
But for me the real problem is the over complicated formation and game plan
Same here mate.
Willian is actually a good talented footballer….He just does nothing and is ineffective. Chelsea fans warned us. They have finessed us for years, we gave them a prime Ashley cole and a still useful Fabregas. While we got Gallas, Cech, Luiz and now Willian. Took us to the fucking cleaners.
No one is good enough for you or Arsenal is just making everyone look bad. Yeah, a world cup winning AM is not good enough for you.
Lets be honest, Willian couldn’t give a fuck about Arsenal football club. He is only here for the money and something to do for the last 3 years of his career. He was a lazy signing by the club and it shows..
That rent on the Kensington flat won’t pay itself
He should be in the MLS right now
Fucker is picking up his pension.
Arteta really mess up on signing willian. He doesn’t add anything to the team, if anything he is taking the well needed game time pepe, willock and nelson should be getting to develop. Very poor signing long term and short term.
I dont know if other people feel the same, but whenever I watch Willian play for us he literally looks like he doesn’t give a flying fuck. Looks like hes just strolling around putting in almost no effort.
Bellerin being schooled by Grealish…think we fans are better at scouting that whoever or whatever made Arsenal buy Willian, he was rubbish at Chelsea in his final years with constant moaning against him for always delaying their counter attacks. We are going to look more timid if we keep starting him and laca together. This was proper schooling for us, Partey and Gab only two players who didnt look out of depth. Grealish grew once Partey wasnt there, shows how much of world class signings we need … Very disappointing game, knew in a way it is going to be… Read more »
For how long shall we be WIP? Blowing hot n cold aint good for the heart
I really respect Arteta but it is crystal clear that he’s not up for the job and should be replaced by someone who’s capable of building a team that can actually attack.
We’ve become a defensive team that can’t defend, it really is a shame that he won’t turn out to be our manager for the future.
We were kinda expecting timid performance like this…but that doesn’t mean we have to loose our shit for it. We have improved defensively , it is a process, this result was coming because of zero creativity, hopefully last of willian and laca together.
But come on don’t be so naive … Keep those pitchforks in the drawer.
Not much of a defensive performance was it?
How do we know we’ve improved defensively? Obviously we conceded less because we attack less, if we didn’t score AND conceded we’d get relegated?
The test for our defensive strength is if we mantain current stats while playing attacking football…but based on the goals you’ve seen today (incl the one that was disallowed, can we be sure we’re that much better off defensively?)
You had better get used to results like this then.
Fucking hell you really are a comedian…
Arry Redcup
Downvoters can you please explain to me what makes you think he’s the right man based on our overall performance and lack of improvement this season?
Is it really a good tendency not being flexible enough to use a back four even at home against teams that are supposed to be weaker and where we should dominate?
Oh its like, we were dominating teams for years. The manager is been in charge for less than a year. He still bought tangible success while working with a mediocre team under unprecedented circumstances. That’s more than enough to down vote comments like yours and question your judgement.
Btw, nobody is thrilled with the performance or result today. But a bit of perspective is recommended. This is a team in transition with limited options when it comes to adding creativity in the final third.
So why can’t he give Willock a chance as an internal solution?
We’ve seen some encouraging performances from him (although clearly against inferior teams).
Why doesn’t he put more emphasis on our midfield by switching to a back four and putting a creative midfielder next to Partey and Elneny?
Also the sheffield game was a good example that we were much better when Auba played up front and Pepe should be a no brainer instead of Willian as he has a much better end product.
It’s appalling management all round. Marginalising your best player, benching the record signing who actually makes decisive impact for a washed up chelsea reject, playing 4 at the back at home again, playing no attacking midfielders at all, I could go on and on and on.
*5 at the back.
I wouldn’t mind it if they actually passed forwards, but it’s sideways and backwards is not how you win games.
Look at Villa, every single pass was forward thinking, progressive and attacking. We got fully embarrassed there tonight.
Did anyone notice how quick Martinez released the ball for their third goal?
#artetaout #deanin
Mike Dean?
Shut up man, stop being a fair-weather fan.
If you’re gonna demand for the manager’s sack after every defeat or timid performance, you might as well move over to the other team on the other side of London.
You are very hard on him. Accusing him to behave like a sprs fan… maybe it is too much. Pace!
I think it is reasonable to ask serious questions after seeing these worrying signs all over again, the attacking performance just won’t improve and we conceded 3 at home. If we’ve become a defensive at least let’s be good at it for god’s sake….
You might as well be happy with current situation but most fans don’t like to be completely humiliated and want this situation to change.
Are we really going to call for the manager’s head every time we lose a match? It’s as tiresome as losing. No one enjoys getting hided at home but try to stay on the rails.
DROSS
This team has scored 1 penalty goal in the league in since October 4th. It’s fucking embarrassing. Arteta needs to go home, rip it up and start again. Same shit, different day.
We are toilet
Grade A, 100% pure, unfiltered trash. Literally, and I mean LITERALLY, nothing even remotely positive we can take from that game.
I’ve said it before and I’ill say it again. Martinez is twice the keeper of Leno. Dominated him tonight in every department.
I didn’t realize they were tussling on the field.
Against our attack any keeper would look good. Don’t be so simplistic
You’re being simplistic , Martinez is a hearty supersmart South American cartel father figure guy. He understands organization in a family ties way. He was the closest personality to Jurgen Klopp we had in this team, unless you’re being simplistic about Klopp too. He’ll look you in the eye and slap you if you need to be reminded that you’re a monster. He’s had a more difficult time than Allison so I’ll even say he’s better than the guy (is hat don’t kill you make you stronger). I said we failed if we get less than 60m for him.
Why on earth do you keep going on about monsters?
In a competitive game You’re either a monster or a nice guy. I know who I’d rather
Easy for him to do considering we didn’t manage a shot on target
Got an assist that went onto nutmeg Leno for the 3rd, i’d say that’s pretty comprehensive.
Grealish with the assist, Emi doesn’t get props for the pass because 20/20 premier league keepers would’ve played the same one
What assist ?
True and false. He’s better, but had nothing to do tonight. Leno would’ve looked just as good for Villa today
Leno would not have moved ball so quick for their 3rd. Martinez distribution also meant pressure was taken off time and again
Almunia would have been sound in their goal today.
Bellerin being schooled by Grealish…think we fans are better at scouting that whoever or whatever made Arsenal buy Willian, he was rubbish at Chelsea in his final years with constant moaning against him for always delaying their counter attacks. We are going to look more timid if we keep starting him and laca together. This was proper schooling for us, Partey and Gab only two players who didnt look out of depth. Grealish grew once Partey wasnt there, shows how much of world class signings we need … Very disappointing game, knew in a way it is going to be… Read more »
We could do with the likes of Grealish and Watkins tbh
Watkins looks absolutely class. Like a young Aubameyang but with better hold up skills. I wouldn’t mind him at Arsenal one bit. With the greatest respect, him over Nketiah is night and day.
He’s quick, strong and very positive on and off the ball. Link up play is on point. I’m not saying he’s going to be a world beater but we desperately lack those qualities in attack.
Humiliating. Arteta is wanking me off now. And not in a good way
With a rusty cheese-grater. Handled by John Terry. While Mourinho secretly films everything (and prepares himself a martini seasoned with your tears).
Is that what you meant by “not in a good way”?
And instead of sugar round the rim of the glass, itll be your cock shavings from aforementioned cheese grater
Tell him to keep his hands to himself then.
The report is soo fast. Wish our team moved the ball this fast.
Europa league here we come…..
Europa league? You’re being optimistic…
Europa conference league 2021 baby!
Can you remove fucking lacas image from my tucking face
What a shitshow, unlike the Leicestergame there wasnt even a part we dominated. Willian…. lost the ball for the opener, missed two pretty presentable chances by a mile and didnt seem to care much about any of it. Partey, the only one doing much in the first half, going off really hurt us. Really hope that the performance of Barkley and Grealish convinces Arteta of the benefits of a CAM. Cant help but think it would’ve been handy to have Willock to throw on as well…..
For me, it looks like Willian heart is not in it to play for Arsenal, just looks a last big pay day for me.
Wish we stop giving Chelsea players this option.
So much for picking in form players. Willock must have been devastated to not even make the squad tonight after his last two outstanding performances.
That was a crock of shit! Bench Willian and Laca, stick Auba in the middle and start playing some of the youngsters because it can only be a fucking improve on that shitshow!
I’ve been saying this for 6 weeks now. And I’m sure you have also Tony. It’s absolutely maddening. We have the players to fully compete in this league, they’re just not being managed correctly.
Hmm, thank God I didn’t watch the match such a disgrace.
Turned off my stream after the first half to prepare myself a nice plate of pasta. Can’t wait excitedly all week to see my team play, only to start stressing out few minutes in.
Fusilli?
Farfalle probably.
Fucking lazy performance.
…and completely predictable. I hate this Arsenal team.
Also, I’ve never known a team to be so fucking hopeless at corners and freekicks. Maybe we should stop playing rondo in training sessions and actually practice a legitimate way to score a goal.
The bloke brought in from Brentford to sort out set plays – is he another Joorabchian- Sanllehi stitch up?
I fucking hate this Arsenal team too. They’re boring as shit to watch, but substantially less satisfying
I have to disagree, and apologies for shouting THE PLAYERS ARE IN THE WRONG POSITIONS.
Aubameyang can’t build play, Laca can’t finish, Willian can’t run, and there’s in nobody even attempting to be a number 10.
I don’t wanna see Willian nor Lacazette in the front 3 again after this. How many games now and we look absolutely toothless with those 2 in the starting 11. No movement, no hold up, no take ons, no intricate passing. Nothing. Even the win at Old Trafford, though we dominated the midfield we were still toothless up front. If Pogba didn’t brainfart we might have drawn the game even. And Lacazette’s miss is as bad as a defender giving away an own goal. His hold up play isn’t there anymore as well. Willian is a waste of space, another… Read more »
Emi over Leno , football is a life analogy and it’s not always the person who’s great at their job in life who’s best for the group. Martinez role was bigger than football or goalkeeping.
I’m certain you’ll be disappointed.
So glad I refused to pay to watch it.
On the radio it sounded like we were complete dogshit.
Imagine staying up until 3:15 AM watching those shits and Leicester winning only to see us fucking it all up..! Now its 5:15 and I can’t even sleep!
And it’s Monday.
I watched the recording of the match instead of waking up at 3.15 AM, and I am glad that I did that. Would have been such a waste of time and effort if I were to force myself from that deep slumber, and I’ll probably have nightmares if I try to sleep after the game…😎
Watched only the first half, it was terrible. Seems the second was even worse off.
No dog has ever created a turd as humongous as that shitshow.
They have. I saw a dog poo in car park in Llanelli once that was the size and shape of a rugby ball. I would rather be made tom stare in amazement at that poo for 1.5 hrs than watch the gunners play like that.
Excuse typos..
You should have seen the turds that came out of the Great Dane I had. Massive! Consistent too. Unlike this team at the moment.
was far worse watching it.
Dogshit doesn’t do it justice fats. Thats as bad as I’ve ever seen in last few years. No idea what the fuck is happening. One week great now this.
Absolutey awful display, Lazazette Willian and Auba don’t even look interested half the time, heads down shoulders hunched sulking like children, Grealish made a mockery out of our 11 players tonight, shocking, shocking performance. Shameful
Wake me up when November ends! How does one dissect that shit-show and stay sane?
Laca has to be sold in Jan. He’s stinking the place out.
Willock has to push harder for a start. No creativity in the team otherwise.
Pepe should’ve started and Willian dropped.
Villa wanted it more. Way more. Deserved win for them.
Why single out Laca? Which one of our attacking players is playing well? How can any of them have any impact when no chances are ever created for them?
But it’s always Laca who had been consistently stinking up our fucking season.
Only because he’s playing as the central striker, the focal point, and he’s failing miserably. Ollie Watkins cost less than 2/3 of what Laca cost us 4 years ago, and he’s got more get up and go passion in his big toe, it seems.
Send Laca to a fuckin crematorium, his spirit is not even mediocre. He has a dead spirit
Just fucking keep him out , play fucking Moller if you gotta
I want to get it off my chest. This is not enjoyable anymore. It has not been since 2018. Not under Emery and no, not under Arteta either. When we win, it’s just gritty which is good but it’s not enjoyable. I’m either bored or disappointed and sometimes both and wins are just a relief. I know we should and have to give Arteta a chance but we need to ask questions as well. Are we only going to be a sporadically good at counterattacking and almost never good at controlling team? Because I’m so bored. We should not be… Read more »
Fuck the “process”. Fuck any “transition period”. This team is not good enough and got found out in the worst way, as was always going to happen.
We have an absolute fuckton of players, and if Arteta seriously thinks this is the best we’ve got then ALL of the blame rests on him. Fuck what they do on the training pitch, some of these players have proven time and time again that they are not good enough to do it when it is required.
The system is shit and Willian literally does less than Ozil.
Mikel isn’t Elite-level people controller. Does a lot and with the right personnel will do wonders, but he’s not Echelon . You need to have the ability to engineer players from the inside, Tierney looks less than he was since Mane raped him, the manger should manage that situation but probably doesn’t understand what the guy is going through. Plus fuck Laca fuck laca, only a Klopp could manipulate him into being a monster.
There was a moment in 53rd minute where I forget who it was collected it deep on the left. No square or forward pass in sight, but there were 3 players in the box simply standing there. They might as well have had their hands on their hips having a beer. Lack of movement up front is terrifying. Total shot show.
worst thing is that was so boring.
Why sign Willian? Why not just give Nelson the minutes?
Even if he’s on a par at least there’s an opportunity to develop. There are special players that still maintain their performances once their over the hill of 32 or so but they really are the exception rather than the rule. Why waste the opportunity to develop someone who is supposedly one of our best talents in recent years to play someone who just isn’t delivering?
Our defense has improved. A plus, according to many.
Forgot to use your sarcasm font
Lol. Last week we had the “best defence in the league” according to some
We always needed to improve the attack. Nine goals in eight games now – not good!
Top goal scorer – out of position.
Laca – so deep he may as well be CB
Willian – adding nothing at all.
I wish we could play like Villa. Hurts to say so.
All of our top 4 rivals made ground.
Top four is gone guys. Get comfy for mid-table mediocrity
Villa, Southampton, Leeds… just a handful of the “smaller” teams playing better football than us at the moment. It’s so worrying for me.
Well done to Emi and Villa, who deserved the win. You have to say this is not a surprise really.
We’ve spent a fortune on bang average players, barring Partey. The wage bill alone should demand a lot more.
I get your disappointment but Gabriel is decent. Willian, although free looks a shitshow though.
You’re right there!
Imagine being an Arsenal fan!
I guess those good years mean more because of all the disappointments That goes for every club.
Imagine being a Liverpool fan and waiting 30 years – or a Spurs fan with 59 years and counting…
It is fucking disgraceful that Willian and Lacazette are still getting picked in the first 11.
Absolutely embarassing.
Absolutely diabolical.
No need for a knee jerk reaction in this rather odd season.
But Willian has to be dropped after this night.
How many opportunities will Lacazette squander before Arteta is convinced to move Auba centre?
If Partey is out for a considerable time, we are doomed!
I love Arteta and think he’s going to be a great manager, but it’s been clear that a lot of what we’ve done this year really hasn’t been working. Hopefully this was enough to lead to a rethink as it’s pretty clear that our offense is broken- when we create so few chances each game we cannot afford to have Laca effectively missing open goals. Teams outside the top 6 clearly have figured out our tactics – we have to adjust.
We’re good on the break and if teams overcommit while pressing us, but otherwise we’re toothless. The United game conned us a bit, we looked good because their shape played into our hands first half, then second half they gave away a stupid penalty.
It was obvious tonight, every opportunity Villa had they moved it forward whereas we stopped and played back or sideways. No players looking for overlaps or one-twos. Grealish totally made up for that Cup Final performance.
Heh.
Another one who was telling me how awesome we were going to be without Ozil.
How do like those apples, son? 🤣
Positives… positives… positives… errrrr… At least we didn’t concede 7 like Liverpool.
Nope, I can’t do it. That was shockingly embarrassing. And yet somehow I don’t feel shocked.
Even against ManUre we tried to give it away, this night has been coming despite our goals against column.
I guess actually playing well isn’t one of the non-negotiables.
I’d rather roll with a mercurial Pepe than Willian because clearly we have to have players in there that might make a little magic of their own. There is no attacking system.
What is really annoying is that players like Barkley and Grealish are gettable for a club of our stature and resource.
That’s the thing. Ross Barkley up until this season was terrible for Chelsea.
Arsenal made him look like Ronaldinho with the amount of time they gave him to dribble.
The forwards continued their poor form so no surprises there. It’s the defensive performance that was woeful. Are these players telling us Aston Villa invoke more fear in them than Manchester City?
Arsenal is killing morale
What the fuck is going on? What’s wrong with this mess of a club?
Leicester never won at Highbury / Emirates
Villa had not won at Emirates 2013. Arteta and his tactics has made it possible.
What a load of shite that was.
Let’s not kid ourselves any longer. This is still a mid table team who’ve only beaten Fulham convincingly this season. Arteta needs to stop insisting on playing players who aren’t performing, and play Auba through the middle, who is more likely to finish the 1 or maybe 2 chances the team does create each match.
That Martinez looks calm and composed in his goal, doesn’t he.
Emi looked calm because we did f*** all in front of goal. Watch Villa’s last game, he was not as composed.
At this rate we will be in crisis by December. If the United win is on Arteta, then this loss is too. This team plays with no tempo, ball is passed slowly and sideways, players take three touches and then pass to a player you know they will pass to, we rely too much on wingers for creativity, so so predictable.
We deserve this loss and Arteta needs to start learning quick. It’s pretty damn obvious to us that Auba should start from the middle and for Willock to play.
What really bothers me is the root of this problem. The fact that they allowed a snake like Raul enter the club in the first place, pushing out an actual scout, just so he could use our money to fill the pockets of his friends…
Absolutely part of the problem. And it will take a season or two to let that play out as contracts expire.
Best defence in the league, and then…BANG! Concede three goals!
Mustafi and batteries not required.
Absolute shambles of a football team. Clueless owners, clueless manager, yes clueless. Sanctioning Willian, Mari, Cedric and another season of David Luiz. Arteta does not have a clue how to set up Arsenal to attack. Its only counter attacking that he favours and that only happens about 3 times in a match. Against Man Utd we were well organised, but let’s be fair Man Utd were terrible. If they played the way they did against Everton they would have beat us. I’m sorry but Arteta is not going to get us back into the Champions League because he cannot set… Read more »
Good point about Tierney.
Agree. The bloom is off the Tierney rose a bit for me. He’s fine but the days of “what a player we have” have faded.
The squad building under Raul and Edu has been horrific, but as far as I can tell the Partey transfer is the only one that’s happened since Arteta became full-on “manager” (as opposed to head coach).
You just can’t tell me that we are better in attack with Laca and Willian that we’d be with Pepe and Ozil – and I’m very neutral on the Ozil topic.
Absolute bollocks. They just fking gave up. Out played by Villa. After the United games I said great result, but can we beat Villa? I guess not, we were miles away in every department. I was most worriedby Arteta rubbing his chin like Emery. I hope Arteta is put under the microscope as Emery with his dog shit defensive pass the ball back tactics. And now we have to soak this shit result during fking pointless international break. Thank you Arsenal.
You must be a right bundle of laughs to live with during lockdown…
Bigger picture – there’s a transfer window coming up and there better be some of the current squad being moved on to make way for upgrades.
Thomas and Gabriel have been two massive improvements but the team needs more, many more.
I’m not sure who we can sign for creativity in January but surely Willock, Nelson and Smith-Rowe could do a job and get experience too?
Arteta is still the right guy but he needs to start being ruthless with his “non-negotiables” on players not pulling their weight.
I agree but how are we going to move the “passengers” in the squad on? We couldn’t sell them in the last window, who’s going to buy them in the next? The game as a whole will be even more short of money in January. Short of buying out their contracts, there’s no way of shifting them. And where’s the money coming from for that? I fear we’re stuck with what we’ve got in very large part until the Summer at least.
I don’t doubt a word of what you’ve written. The better run teams will do things better and the others will struggle. Raul not being involved will help, I’m sure.
Money Money Money
Always funny
In a Biggles world
(With apologies to Benny Andersson – who incidentally is a lifelong Gooner – and his co-writer Bjorn Ulvaeus)
Fckn good evening ain’t it
Y’all keep schooling me about how Ozil doesn’t suit our high press game…….but I doubt our current game is what we wanna achieve anyway so let’s not lose to Villa eh
I know it’s early days but I’m beginning to doubt this process. Our football had become so boring. Something needs to change. Why so defensive against “lesser” teams at the emirate??? To hell with 343.
Keep looking at the scoreline and expecting the numbers to change places but they dont. What the fuck happened today.
We need a new scapegoat
Why not stick to the old one, you know where you are then?
Ozil’s tweeting must have disoriented the team and led to our defeat.
Utter shit tonight… not on one occasion did we have anyone run from deep. So negative. Awful tonight.
Two shots on target in the whole match and three goals conceded. We knew our goal scoring record was appalling prior to the game but the apparent improvement in defence evaporated as well. You can still win if you concede, but you can’t win if you don’t or simply cannot score.
I’m not sure what the solution is, the important thing is that Arteta knows. If he doesn’t we’re stuffed. That’s not being negative, that’s a fact boys and girls.
Still got your champagne on ice for Ozil’s departure?
The problem is when the opposition knows you offer very little going forward then it just invites them to attack