Wow, what a game! I’m exhausted just watching it.
It’s no wonder people all over the world love the Premier league, as this encounter typified what it’s all about.
It really did have the lot in debatable penalty decisions, injuries, bookings, sendings-off, a first look at Hawkeye and most importantly, goals.
Where do I start?
Well, for the first quarter of an hour, I really feared the worst. Arsenal started the brighter side and took the lead in pretty quick time with a goal from Giroud, that had the Villa defence at sixes and sevens. We really should have coped with the ball from the wide left, but after Vlaar had been caught out while impersonating a midfielder, we were a man down at the back. No comment from me about that and I’ll leave it there.
We didn’t capitulate though and far from being over-awed, we started to hold our own. Not enough to say we were the better team, but we were at least making it a bit more equal.
Then Gabby picked up a through ball and turned on the after-burners, leaving a defender for dead and making the goalie grab at his feet.
A clear penalty, which the ref decided wasn’t a scoring chance, as Gabby was going to his right. What else he was supposed to do, I don’t know, but I wasn’t complaining too much.
Benteke elected to take it and I have to say it was a shocker. It was hit with very little pace, enabling the goalie to get to the ball quite easily. Fortunately, it bounced high in the air and Benteke was quick enough to pounce for the goal.
1-1 then and we were slowly starting to look a bit better. Arsenal still looked the better side technically and often looked dangerous but they couldn’t live with our voracity. We quite frankly ran them ragged, hassled them to death and never gave them a moment on the ball.
Good tactics, which resulted in our second penalty.
It was another tackle on Gabby and not so clear cut, but the view I saw told me that Laurent Koscielny didn’t make contact with the ball, so it was justified. Just to prove I’m pretty fair minded though, I don’t believe his first booking was correct, so he was somewhat unlucky to be sent off in my opinion.
Benteke took the penalty again and this time it was much better, planted hard to the left.
2-1, but still nowhere near in the bag for me.
With Arsenal down to ten men, it always looked like an uphill struggle for them and while they obviously have the guile, they definitely don’t have the graft.
They still looked very dangerous, especially after we started to sit back more and more (something that really annoys me about the Villa), but fortunately we held on.
Does anyone have any confidence in our defence when it’s being pressed hard?
Whatever, Arsenal pushed just a little too hard and got caught out when Luna got hold of the ball just over the halfway line, leaving him to run at goal and make the goalie think he was going left, while actually shooting to the low right. A perfect start for him and one that will definitely go down in his memory.
3-1 then and a great game to watch.
I actually recall saying just the same to myself after about an hour, where I was thinking we might still lose.
A really good game and if it isn’t the starter on MOTD, I’ll be surprised.
Gabby MOTM for me, more because of his outstanding workrate which showed the team the way to go, than the penalty incidents.
Chelsea up next isn’t it?
I predict they’ll be a bit shocked this time, as we are not going to roll over like we did last season.
Anyone got a spare ticket they’d like to sell?
I’m in the smoke and would love to see this game.
Just to add to the talking points, Wenger to be sacked this season?
It certainly seems the fans want it.
Aaaaaaaaaoooooowwwwwwahhhh apologies to my lovely VILLA bloggers predicted 1-4 couldn’t have been more wrong .Gonna celebrate with many red stripe tonight.Have a brilliant weekend guys and girls ,Aaaaaaaaaaaaooooowwwwwahhhhhh
I was chatting to a nose I work with about the game yesterday and he predicted 4-1.
My reply was that we wouldn’t win by 3 goals.
Great result today. I don’t think I’ve emphasised it enough, tbh.
I’ve just heard oohah’s missus shouting at him to turn the tv up the right way. He must of turned it upside down so he’d think we were bottom.
Ha ha just put a positive post up for once
I know, you must of struggled though, not exactly in your comfort zone posting positive stuff are you? Well done though. 🙂
ideal signings for arsenal would be Ireland,mutton,given and,Bannan im sure that would satisfy the one eyed gooners
I sat the whole of the 90 minutes with headphone on and played every kick of the ball. When they scored on that 6th minute I thought here we go again, how wrong can you be, well done the lads, I know that we as a club that changing the system of over paid agents and players can now see young wontabe footballers working for the club and the shirt. I’m a happy man again,and to see that attacking full backs are now a problem to other defender’s as well as forwards is brilliant football. Onwards and upwards Villa. 🙂 you made my day.
Just put a positive post up bill
My man at the emirates said Delph was MOTM. What a start to the season! VTID
Yes, I wouldn’t argue with Delph being chosen.
He played well and was very involved in breaking up their play.
Very unlucky when he hit the post too.
I’ve always loved the kid and think he’s really starting to show why we bought him (I did have my doubts at one stage though).
It’s just that Gabby caught the eye a bit more for me today. I thought his workrate was stunning.
But you could probably say that about the whole team, in fairness.
Agreed. Delph could turn out to be a great Villa player. Just hope he steers clear of bad injuries. Why no Gardner on the bench today? Anybody know?
I’d guess it was purely down to Lambert’s choice, but don’t know for sure.
He’ll be involved sometime imo, no worries.
Brilliant day. Baggies and scum both lost as well….very happy days!
As my old mate Langford used to say.
‘We will NOT be relegated’
I miss Langford’s positivity.
Just as we set him up as an author, so he decided to do one.
Shame 🙁
I miss him too. I know he used to take too much negativity personally. Perhaps he will return if we are in trouble come March!
🙂
Badger he’s out of the country, for a while so I’m told, in Germany.
great result!
one thing, last time I remember an atmosphere of this much positivity terry jones came on to say how well we had been playing and how he fancied us to push on and do really well, much to everyones surprise……..this was just before Chelsea away last season(yes you know the one, I shant say the words).
terry you have been warned 😉
BTW oohah…. Have you watched the Manure defence tonight? I think we could take them to the cleaners this year mate. Almost as bad as we were in defence last season!
I didn’t see utd game can’t stand watching utd games sick of all the media brown nosing over them. Plus they win virtually every game. With an attack like theirs they can afford to have a shit defence as they will out score everyone. Plus they didn’t concede many last year and probably won’t concede many this yr
Fair point. But I’m not so sure they will outscore us this season!
wot a game
delph was my match of the match, he did a number on wilshere plus was unlucky with the post
bring on the rest of the best lmao
I’m very happy to hear this, hopefully he’s going to keep improving. Is he our only MON signing left?
guzan was originally mon signing but was released and resigned by lambert
Watching the full game on sky. Its great going one down knowing that you are going to win!
🙂
Brilliant result! We rode our luck a little and definitely seemed to get the better of the refereeing decisions but fuck it, we deserve some luck!
Delph was great, never stopped running. Gabby proved once again that he deserves his place. I thought Benteke and Weimann were poor in the first half but came into their own in the second.
At the back, we always looked vulnerable…even when they had 10 men. We have to get Okore in as soon as possible. Guzan was excellent once again, although his distribution was poor first half.
All in all though, happy days! Lets hope we can carry the confidence from this win into the Chelsea game, i think we’re gonna need to!
Just put a new positive piece up benno
Benno, that’s a bloody good assessment mate and very much how I saw it.
I just wanted to shine a better light on things, as the result was cracking.
Things ain’t perfect, but neither are they for Arse, who will be expected to challenge for the top 4.
Spurs to take that place, if it isn’t us, imo.
FCUK YESSS…..
Now that’s what im talking about 😀
Benteke is going to tear it up this year.. if we get another player in midfield who is creative and has a good work rate we are gonna scorea shed load of goals..
What a start the gooners got a broadside and in a fashion we have not seen from a Villa team the last few years.Now i say bring,em all on a win like todays as got to be a great confidence booster to such a young team and prove the VILLA are back and can beat anybody in the league.Now lets see these young Lions get revenge on chelsea for the humiliation they heaped upon them last season.Come On You Lions Onwards and Upwards well done believe in yourselfs and nothing is impossible even winning the league.Am looking forward to match of the day.
I’d like to be a fly on the wall at Lambert’s team talk at Chelsea!
Last time we won 3.1 away against the odds we were stuffed 8.0 by Chelsea lets hope we keep the score down. Can still see it being 4.0 to them because defence hasn’t improved enough and vlaar still shite
Anyone else notice that whenever we get a penalty and Benteke steps up, he always goes for the left?
Yes.
If he’s not careful he’ll get sussed out.
He needs to change it around a bit.