I was contemplating what to say and even if I should say anything at all, because the result today pretty much said it all for me.
But then it dawned on me that we were actually very unlucky in that we didn’t win this by four clear goals after Ollie did what he usually does, in missing some and scoring some.
Not that we can complain about him. He’s second top scorer to probably the best striker at the best team in the league after all, as much as I’ve seen some Villa fans ripping him to pieces at times.
The first half was a bit scary, because Arsenal were very dominant and creating chances, but the simple fact is they didn’t finish, while we were pretty much backs to the wall. We actually had the best chance, with Ollie hitting the inside of the post.
A funny old game indeed and the sort I was secretly hoping for, but didn’t dare to dream of.
Onto the second half then and we actually improved and started to take it to them.
As I type, I’m listening to Merse, who I’m sure is saying that Arteta didn’t have anybody to bring on. I must have heard that wrong, surely?
Whatever, you could see our belief building and the goal came via Leon Bailey at the far post.
And then blow me, if we didn’t get a second within two minutes with Ollie scoring with a lovely chip over the goalie.
So that’s a stunning result that has more than one benefit;
1 Unai and Martinez both say FU to Arsenal.
2 Arsenal get stuffed for the first time this calendar year.
3 It looks like Arsenal have blown the title.
4 We are still playing for the Champion’s league, when all looked lost on Friday.
It’s as I said.
Expect the worst and anything else is a bonus.
Because of that thinking, I’m currently ecstatic.
And then I have the thoughts of Liverpool fans at work tomorrow.
Should I laugh? Probably not, they can get the right hump if you wind them up 🙂
What a great weekend!
Yessssd woo hoo
I’m not a nervous type at all, but pens can do it to me.
Did we deserve it?
Maybe not, but we made their goalie work harder than Martinez, who was outstanding with his wind-up stuff.
A totally undeserved yellow for holding the ball at his feet and then another during the pens. Fortunately, for some stupid reason, everything is reset when penalties begin.
Why? It’s still the same game, surely?
These rules are utterly ridiculous and it’s not helped by refs who hand cards out like confetti.
Get in you f**king beauty!
Ole Ole Ole Ole.
High Ho ASTON VILLA!
When Emi gets centre stage, he owns it. Ugly, ugly win but I dont think we used more than 75% effort to steal it.
I must admit I felt confident when it got to penalties. With EMI in goal I felt he would save 2 and he did. What surprised me was some of our team who took them.
I love being a Villa fan! We never seem to do it the easy way!
Ain’t that the truth 😂
So does that mean that Emi carries that to the next match? Nothing would suprise me.
I think a yellow will follow through.
Meanwhile, it’s Olympiakos or Fenerbache next and that’s currently 3-3.
We should be able to do either, but who knows?
Pool and Spam one up. Who knows there too?
Both will be even more intimidating that these tonight. Tonight was the primer…
I think that was our tough one, but see what you mean with Fener, particularly.
Anyone know what’s happening with the coefficient??
We’ve blown the co-efficient mate.
We need a miracle. 8% chance was quoted earlier on here.
So 4th it is then matey.
In Unai we trust.
So I think we play the winner of Fenerbahçe v Olympiakos. Currently the tie is 3-3 at HT. Not certain, just from Memory.
I did turn it off at 2-0 – that clearly brought Villa luck – but had to turn it back on at 2-1!
Thought the summing up by Sidwell and Hutton was pretty much on the mark.
Was that a typical Emery against the odds win in Europe?
We need to cheer on Pool and West Spam now.
Confirm the semi final info. Games 2 and 9th May. Will be watching from Japan, should be fun and I must remember to pack my hat and scarf.
The Villa European cup jobby with Mark Williams has just started on TNT3 lads .
I never tire of it.
Super Villans?
Brilliant watch.
On a serious note, wishing all Villa fans a safe journey out of Lille and back home. I imagine their ultras are pissed. Oh, and make sure Emi gets smuggled out the back door with a decoy car!
Ron
I’ve copied this from Euefa.com. If you can work it out you are a better man than I am!
2 – All wins from group stage (UCL, UEL, UECL)
1 – All wins in qualifying and play-off matches (UCL, UEL, UECL)
1 – All draws from group stage (UCL, UEL, UECL)
0.5 – All draws in qualifying and play-off matches (UCL, UEL, UECL)
4 – Group stage bonus participation (UCL, UEL)
4 – Round of 16 bonus participation (UCL)
4 – Group winners (UEL)
2 – Group runners-up (UEL)
2 – Group winners (UECL)
1 – Group runners-up (UECL)
1 – Each round clubs reach from the round of 16 (UCL, UEL)
1 – Each round clubs reach from the semi-finals (UECL)
Cheers Sid, that makes it all crystal 😂😂
You thought the ref at our game was poor! The ref at the West Ham game is a complete numpty! Totally biased to Leverkusen.
It’s all about winning.
Emery is a winner in Europe.
No more to be said.
So Villa are the only English team left in Europe and I presume it’s nailed on that Germany get the 5th Champions League spot. Why does that make me so angry?
Will the media now start to make a fuss about us? Or will it be ‘and by the way Villa have a semi final tonight in some cup’!
Fenerbache or Olympiacos? I don’t know who I’d prefer. With the final in Athens you would expect pressure to be on Olympiacos to succeed. It’s going to be tough with the 2nd leg away from home again.
Fiortina or Club Bruges in the final – oops looking too far ahead!
Both good sides – Fiortina beaten finalists by West Spam last time out.
Who do you fancy in the semi – Fenerbahce or Olympiakos?
Well, we didn’t play well but we found a way. I honestly think that you can compare it to the Real Madrid win at Man City. We weren’t the best team on the day but, like Real, we found a way to win. I thought that Lille were very good and probably the best side we will face going forward but we had resilience. IMHO resilience = a bit of steel + total belief that you can win.
In some ways this was a real marker for where we need to be. We have beaten the best side in the last eight so I have no fear of any team left. We can beat teams when we’re playing well and we can find a way to beat them when we’re not.
This is going to be a very special season.