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robvsn
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couldnt agree more, ive never watched villa loose before and come away feeling so positive about my team, they were literally all over arsenal in the 2nd half, and very unlucky to loose. I was watching it with 2 liverpool fans they were genuinely impressed, and could'nt believe they were watching villa !! |
Mattthedoggy
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Bouma kept Eboue quiet!!?  Bouma got roasted all match. Both goals came from that side especially the first where he was roasted for pace. |
Padre Pio
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Its not really a debate is it? You see the result is decided by the team that scores the most goals being declared winner. This is very different to ice skating where competitors are awarded points for performance by judges. Funny enough both sides of this debate has fallen into the ice skating form of grading. Arsenal won because they scored one more goal than Villa, neiher side were given points for beautiful football. Of course if the rules were changed to take style into account then Arsenal may well have got extra points. |
Redtop
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If you read vital football, you will see there were many Arsenal fans who felt this was always going to be our hardest test. Your report is actually quite pathetic & in fairness just smacks of bitterness. Could Villa have snatched a draw? Yes, quite possible, however Arsenal should have been 3-4 goals ahead by half time. Villa's second half performance was pretty effective, but you created little & if the ref had done his job then Carew wouldn't have even been on the field to actually hit the bar. Clearly you are very naive about football if you think the Villa players could have kept up their second half performance for an entire 90 minutes. Arsenal had more possession, more corners & 1 more shot than Villa. I can understand you being upset at your great winning run being ended but you should try being honest. I hope Villa go on to make a Champions League place, for all the decent Villa supporters out there, unlike yourself. |
B.S.
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LB you are completely wrong. I agree with most of the stuff in the article myself. I like Arsenal and hope they win the Championship this season, but they can be very arrogant at times. That's the thing I don't like about many Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U and Liverpool fans - they all think their team own the premiership and cannot accept losing. In this case some fans can't even accept Villa were good for a point yesterday, which they clearly were. |
legend
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A very reasonable interpretation Doc. Interesting to note how defensive Arsenal fans become when they face a real test. O'Neill suggested in his programme notes that this game will probably define our intentions for the rest of the season. I think we have shown that, even if we cannot 'beat' them every time, we are prepared to compete with the top 4. Can't wait for our games against Portsmouth and Man C this month as these are the teams going for 5th/ 6th with us. We know we are not the finished article, players are still developing and new players will come in January and yet we can still hope for Europe. I'd rather be a Villa a fan with my feet on the ground and faith in my team than an Arsenal fan, who, with such lack of self awareness cannot tell the difference between what they think and what actually happens. |
SuperSeanUK
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I agree with almost everything you say Doc, although I've got to agree with the Arsenal fan who pointed out that Bouma actually got slaughtered. I really think he was poor in the first half, beaten quite often and awful distribution when he did have the ball. Other than that, I totally agree, we deserved a point, we murdered Arsenal in the second half just as they murdered us in the first. The Arsenal fans posting here are mostly blinded by the fact that Arsenal's football is, well, beautiful. Doesn't change the fact that in the second half when we didn't let you play, we were the better team, hungrier and more threatening. Fair shout about Carew slicing Hleb, but Barry was fouled in a similar manner and the ref didn't even give a free kick. Legend, I totally agree with your post. Well written. Great article as usual Doc. |
Ceatharlach
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Some objectivity here.. Arsenal could have got more goals in the first but Villa took the lead with a bit of luck. By that I mean an opposition player cheaply gave away the ball, and the cross was deflected by 2 oppossition players and it fell to the right spot. Second half Arsenal didn't perform but I am not sure if this is down to villa, they just dropped their intensity. I can appreciate O'Neill trying to talk his side up as he does not want this to effect villa's run. However aside fromm hitting the bar villa never really worked the arsenal keeper. If you allow for villa hitting the bar and arsenals first half missed chances the fairest reflection on the game would have been 2-3 at best. I have watched aresenal a few times this season and they have responded when needed. They seem to do what they need to do. |
Wyn Mills
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I'm an Arsenal fan, and kind of resent the comment about us having our heads in the clouds. None of us believe Arsenal have any divine right to win the EPL,or be lauded for the football we play. To be honest I'd rather the media didn't talk our players up because it puts more pressure on the team. However I do feel incredibly lucky and proud to be watching the kind of football we played in the first half every other week at the Emirates, especially if like the majority of true fans you rem,ember how we used to play before Wenger arrived. And I've seen plenty of Arsenal performances which have followed the same pattern of sublime play one half, lazy complacency the other. Credit to Villa for pushing us to the line, but in all honesty we should have put the game out of sight by half time. And when Carew raked his studs down Hleb's shin and our playmaker went off I knew Wenger would shut up shop. We have another game on Wednesday and you could see the tempo dropped because of it. |
Ole Gunner
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Yes I know you guys had the second half. On the other hand, Arsenal have shown this season that they have the ability to score late in games. I think if Villa had scored, I'd have backed Arsenal to score. I do love this Villa team, and think you can actually make the top 4. Stop beefing though. |
oldman villain
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villa lost the game in the first half because the defence did not perform if knight tried to head the ball for the second goal instead of ball watching the result could well of been dfferent they backed off on every arsenal atack in the first half instead of closing down and some of the midfield done the same,second half we was a different team closing down and we was unlucky not to at least get a draw...but its all about scoring goals and with gabby only a shaddow of is usual self we was light up front shame we never had moore on the bench because i think mon would of put him on..bring on the pompy next saturday |
tommy t
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Bouma did get slaughtered but only because he had no protection. It was obvious after 5 mins that ashley young was on the wrong side of the oitch in the first half. i'm sure if he had the choice of facing eboue and sagna or rosicky and clichy he would have picked the latter. We stood of them too much in the first half and were the better team in the second. but overall the best team won. Portsmouth should be easy compared with that anyway!!! |
ohiovillan
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I don't really go in for this 'deserved' point stuff. Luck and refereeing evens itself out over time so you tend to get what you deserve. that said I was very happy with the performance. Also even though the first half was pretty bad we still looked like we might do good things on the break. As I said before I was sad to see Young diving though he did have a great game |
the_flabster
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Well i think this was a good article and cant believe some of the Arsenal's fans comments. Everyone even professionals viewing the game said Villa were worth a point so i dont see how anyone can argue with them since they are qualified to talk about it. Arsenal may have sat back a little but its not like they werent trying, to suggest that they were in control in the second half would be unfair. We have seen it before when teams stop watching Arsenal's beautiful football and stay tight to them they arnt nearly as effective. Bolton & Blackburn both have used this tactic successfully. Yes Arsenal could have been 3/4-1 up at half time but in the second half they only had 1 shot at goal which went way into the stands. All us Villa fans know we are not on the same level as the gunners and are not suggesting that but we are happy because we can see such an improvement from our team and we know that with a few additions in key positions this team can compete with the best. I dont think any team this season has dominated Arsenal for a whole half and for that we must be given credit. |
useroz
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naive analysis and misguided views.. that's all so many could have, would have, etc - that's why villa is villa those could have etc would not eventuate for you - that's your standard on the other hand, even with couple of key players missing arsenal pulled villa part in the 1st half, at will - and that's the difference and quite true, if you had leveled at 2-2 arsenal would have stepped up the tempo whether arsenal would score is another matter entirely villa fans went hyper as this was probably the best they had but to arsenal just a business-as-usual performance - they use necessary force to get the job done and if opposition gets tougher they respond with martin o'n villa could be on the right track, in due course |
ste23
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spot on flabster,its not about being better than arsenal its about improving on what we were before |
graymo23
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Why are arsenal fans on this board. This is meant to be 100% bias towards Villa. I agree with article and thought we played fantastically. If your not a villa fan why not go on a neutral board (bbc) and make your lame oppinions known there. Onwards to Pompey. |
Villain from Texas
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We know that Arsenal has the better team. But Arsenal's fans can't reasonably dispute that we gave them a match. Villa played hard and could've gotten a point or three, just as Arsenal could've buried the game before halftime. |
Paresh
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i admire arsenal and wud love to see them win the league over those dirty filthy animals from old trafford and stamford bridge. they play football the way it should be played. but if any arsenal fan tries to deflect anythin away from villa's second half performance, then i seriously think they are man utd/chelsea fans in disguise - lacking in grace. granted, we could have been buried in the first half but we werent, plain an simple. and in the second half, we were on a mission and really took it to the gunners in a way they havent experienced this season. |
eie
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A game of 2 halfs. Arsenal were by far the better team in the first half and could and should have wrapped the game up,however no matter how well a team plays as long as there is only 1 goal init then a team always has a chance. Villa looked more likely to score in the second half and at home in front of a passionate crowd on the back of their best run for 10 years of course they should be having a go at the Arsenal. Arsenal knew this would be one of their toughest tests and they showed great resiliance and that they can cope with a relentless,physical onlsaught. Really a tale of 2 styles , the total football of arsenal and wimbldedoneque approach of Villa. Overall a cracking game and lets hope villa and other challenging teams show the same committment against the other top 4 teams. |
Ceatharlach
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No one villa did not play well in the second half, however because they put pressure that is top of the league with long balls and crosses into tall players who never worked the keeper and at best hit the crossbar once simply does not mean they deserved a point. That is just O'Neill keeping the team talked up. As for the pundits - It is just Tim Sherwood that said that. An ex Spurs player who was rejected by Arsenal and sent off against them twice in his career. (You should read the absolute rubbish he wrote on the Setanta site today - bitter or Wot!). Read any of the writers in the papers today for a real pundit. O'Neill is a great manager and is trying to make his players believe through the media they should have gotten something to keep confidence growing. If they had some craft along with the brawn they may have worked the arsenal keeper and genuinely have deserved something. He will probably bring someone in in january and I was surprised he didn't try Young up front. I hope they gain this as they are a great club and would love them to dump Utd out of the cup. |
guntastic
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as a arsenal fan l think villa pushed us hard, very hard. O'Neill is putting together a very good side. Your progress will depend on him not accepting the england job. l can seriously see you there or thereabouts next season. Where l think you gave us real problems was down the flanks in the 2nd half. The width you had kept our defence strecthed & very busy. Keep showing that form & you won't be that far away from a european spot. A big turning point for me, was the elimination of helb. Had he stayed on l don't think villa would of had as much of the ball they had. He was a very valuable outlet for us. Even on his 50 minutes contribution, he was my man of the match. But l do think the future looks good for you. |
Leroy
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The Gunners are the leagues best and to lose to them showing a bit of fight is nothing to be upset about. Carew is such a threat, good to see him fit finally. I must agree Adebayor is a strange strange man, would love to have him on our side though. Honestly though the three obvious things we lack are a striker who can finish, a midfielder who can create (like Berger used to do) and our back four (Zat Knight in particular) to concentrate the entire game (like they did against Chelsea). I personally think that Knight Mellberg and Laursen have plenty of ability but are constantly caught napping, costing us dearly at times. They have shown they can be so solid but rarely keep their heads in it for the full 90. I think despite the first half, it is awesome to see the Villa control a half of football against the league leaders, something that we simply were not even close to doing two seasons ago.... |
Jacko33
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LB & Redtop - u 2 are bordering on the moronic. Do u even know the meaning of the word "bitterness"?? And the only thing pathetic was the way every arsenal player acted like a petulant, whiny bitch the whole of the 2nd half, crying at every (correct) decision Dont get me wrong, Arsenal played us of the park first half, but 2nd half we were totally dominant, we took the game to them and created good chances to equalise. Carew and Young were out of this world - every Young cross looked threatening. Arsenal played (and argued) like they were SCARED - arguably for the first prem game this season. If you dominate a match for 45 minutes then its fair to say you deserve a point. Pampered Arsenal fans clearly know bugger all about football - DISCUSS UP THE VILLA |
PaulE
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I think most of the Arsenal fans on this board are slightly missing the point of the article, maybe because it seems a bit out of context. Whilst we've shown ourselves to be capable of beating any side outside the top 4, it is when we play one of the big guns that we're really tested and we can see how far we've developed as a team since the MON/Lerner revolution began. When we played Man U a few weeks ago, we managed about 20 mins of good football before being totally outclassed and lost 4-1. The reason Villa fans are happy with the performance is that we managed to put Arsenal on the back foot for 45 mins and could have conceivably nicked a draw. It bodes we for us, because we gave them a game and made a match of it when we could have allowed them to walk all over us. Whether we 'deserved' to draw based on the number of chances is another matter, but 2nd half performances like that will give us lots of confidence when we next play one of the top 4. That's why we're happy with it - it shows considerable improvement. If we get a bid carried away with the praise, so what?  |
aaron_villa
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Arsenal do play beautiful and they killed us all first half but we need to remember that arsenal are a top side and challenging for the title and deservingly so. Are the famous aston villa a top 4 side? no we are not but we as two clubs obviously have different goals. Arsenal havn't won the league since 2003/2004 so thats theres! ...and ours? top 6 maybe. I think we have proved we are a top 6 side with victorys over everton at home blackburn away should of beat yids away and a home victory over chelsea! then theres the 20mins we switched of against manutd and the last minute winner against liverpool. So all in all im very very happy with this Aston Villa side. You just have to look back 2 seasons to see how we have changed from a team that people thought wer boring to a team now that geniunely excistes fans! UP THE VILLA Just a little comment to the arsenal fans that actually traveled to villa park singing "Have you ever seen England play like this" when you didnt have one english player on the pitch really does my nut in but thats a whole other story! |
graymo23
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Haha yea. Just wait until a law is passed which states every team has to have at least 3 English players in the team. For some reason i won't be suprised when Arsenal fans kick up the most fuss. I do support this though. I mean at one stage players were from the city of the team they were representing, now its lucky if they have any local lads let alone anyone from the same country. I do think the fact arsenal have only 1 English first team player is pretty bad. Not only do we have English players, but locals at that. Its such a shame that this is so rare these days. |
505anthony
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We played excellently and Arsenal will consider themselves lucky to have taken all three points. I went into this match actually believing we could win and up until the last moment, I believed we would at least get a point. I'm not even bitter, but I do hear you, Doc, when you talk about Arsenal living on their own planet of presumtpion where everyone is supposed to let them win simply because they're God's beautiful team or something. You can see that in how they react to any fouls or ref decisions that go against them; like they have the moral right to every call or something. |
Paresh
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id second that, sometimes the gunners think they shud get special treatment jus cos they play pretty football. if they were good enuff, then their pretty football wud beat the ugly football all the time. i think the fact they have hardly any english players is a well worn criticism. its a bit too easy now to slate them for their foreign contingent. other teams are just as guilty of preferring foreign players. man utd have spent tons on foreign players over the years, as well as chelsea. an remember the spanish brigade at liverpool? arsenal may have got more overseas players, but they have spent less. wot i like about wenger is he buys small, n turns them into world class players. if he could do it wit english lads, then that wud be awesome, granted. |
kohoutek
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Oy. Arsenal fans, so thin-skinned they can't accept that someone might actually have played well enough to earn a draw. Actually, what they can't accept is when other teams don't swoon and sit back and allow them to play pretty. Villa moved the ball on the ground and through the air. To accuse Villa of being "direct" only is inaccurate. If one can criticize the way the ball came to Gardner, then surely Flamini's goal came about in largely the same fashion. And after all, I thought it was all about goals anyway. The lesson has been clear. When Villa went ahead against Utd., they then sat back and invited Utd to be brilliant, and they were only too happy to oblige. Likewise with Arsenal. The only way to win or draw is to close down the space and stop admiring them. I noticed that the reason Arsenal had so much possession was that a) Villa were ball-watching, b) Arsenal were first to loose and 50/50 balls, and c) all their players were moving and looking for the ball. When Villa started doing more of the same, actually playing instead of being afraid to make mistakes, they found that they can reasonably expect a result. If, as all the Arsenal fans suggest, all that matters is the scoreline, with which I don't necessarily disagree in the big picture, then surely they'll agree that any way you go about getting a result is fine. The end justifies the means. More important, it's clear that upcoming games for the Big 4 at Villa Park are going to become rather unappetizing. If MON stays, they can also expect to be challenged for all three points at home, as well. |
ed
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one effort against the bar = real roasting? what planet are you on? Had Carew not butchered Hleb, the reality is Arsenal would've walked the 2nd half too. And this is from Celtic fan who likes Arsenal and O'Neill. |
Gwyllum18
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Gooners make me laugh. Any time anyone gives them a game the moaning starts. Villa are on the rise-expect worse next time! |
villa82
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The pleasing think about the Arsenal performance was that we had a good go! In the O'dreary days we might have got a half decent 0-0 but a very dull spectacle. Im not saying go all out and lose gracefully but really try and beat teams rather than playing for draws. if we beat Arsenal once in the season it's better than 2 draws thats my point and we showed against Chelsea that we are capable of beating a top 4 team. I think we may have been capable of getting a point on Saturday but i think with our methods over the distance of the season it'll stand us in better shape and gain us more points by playing for wins. |
essjaydee
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First off, im a mad villa fan, all my life, and live in sutton. Firstly you cant take the sayings of one arsenal fan they put through on five live to speak for an entire set of fans. The arsenal fats ive spoken to have been massively complimentary towards us, our style of football and have said that it was their biggest test since united. But im honest in saying that arsenal are my second team, solely for the football they play - the best i have ever seen. If i was an Arsenal fan i'd have to say that they do have a divine right to win simply by the way they play, whats wrong with that way of thinking? If Villa played that way id be thinking we'd have a divine right to win aswell. Im so proud of that second half performance though. Even though the match might have been a tad more difficult if Hleb and Fabregas (the two most on form players probably in the world right now) had been on the pitch for the whole match, plainly put, if we play like that against any team in the premiership, including Arsenal, we would win. UTV |
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