90 minutes of high blood pressure and heart attack scares can only mean one thing: Arsenal played again. A game that, with all due to respect to Villa, should be much more routine to turn the screw on our top 4 rivals. In reality, it's in Arsenal's blood to make life as hard for themselves as possible and this game was no different.
....For 89 seconds and it was back to 2-1 in favour of Villa. Chambers failed to control a goalkick from Leno, before Grealish was allowed a far too easy run from 20-25 yards out to our byline before squaring to Wesley who poked home despite Luiz being right by the ball. Another all round appalling goal to concede.
Xhaka and Ceballos were withdrawn for Willock and Torreira and the game suddenly began to turn. Guendouzi took the game by the scruff of the neck and received the ball on the inside left. A whipped ball towards the back post found Chambers who attempted a first time low cross on the volley, it was blocked initially but Villa failed to fully clear their lines allowing Chambers a second bite at the cherry who made no mistake lofting the ball over Heaton. 2-2 and the game is again back on.
And then the real moment of magic from the main man himself. Auba was brought down as he was about to burst into the box, but he dusted himself off and dispatched the ball from the resulting free kick neatly into the bottom corner with Heaton un-moved. Has he just saved Emery's job? Who knows but boy did Arsenal need that to go in and win them the game.
Having said this, the first 45 of those 90 minutes were certainly ones to forget from an Arsenal perspective. Aston Villa controlled the game for large parts and took the lead courtesy of our relentless generosity; Guendouzi was caught on his heels as McGinn ran past him to reach a ball that El Ghazi had all the time in the world to cross and poke home past a helpless Leno.
Arsenal fought to try and take a foothold in the game with Pepe looking dangerous every time he received the ball and Saka looking bright. Jon Moss however had other ideas; AMN slid towards an open ball to sweep it forward but Neil Taylor was in just close enough proximity to come together with AMN and catch him on the knee and require medics to treat the injury for a lengthy spell and bring him off on a stretcher. However no substitute could be brought on because Moss felt the need to give AMN a second yellow and send him off.
Arsenal fought to try and take a foothold in the game with Pepe looking dangerous every time he received the ball and Saka looking bright. Jon Moss however had other ideas; AMN slid towards an open ball to sweep it forward but Neil Taylor was in just close enough proximity to come together with AMN and catch him on the knee and require medics to treat the injury for a lengthy spell and bring him off on a stretcher. However no substitute could be brought on because Moss felt the need to give AMN a second yellow and send him off.
The 2nd 45 minutes might not be remembered too fondly, but there are some happy moments that will live long in the memory of Arsenal fans. While you never felt Arsenal had control of the game, desire persisted and a driving run from Geundouzi drew a foul that won Arsenal a penalty, Pepe kept a cool head to open his Arsenal account from the spot. 1-1 and game on!....
....For 89 seconds and it was back to 2-1 in favour of Villa. Chambers failed to control a goalkick from Leno, before Grealish was allowed a far too easy run from 20-25 yards out to our byline before squaring to Wesley who poked home despite Luiz being right by the ball. Another all round appalling goal to concede.
Xhaka and Ceballos were withdrawn for Willock and Torreira and the game suddenly began to turn. Guendouzi took the game by the scruff of the neck and received the ball on the inside left. A whipped ball towards the back post found Chambers who attempted a first time low cross on the volley, it was blocked initially but Villa failed to fully clear their lines allowing Chambers a second bite at the cherry who made no mistake lofting the ball over Heaton. 2-2 and the game is again back on.
And then the real moment of magic from the main man himself. Auba was brought down as he was about to burst into the box, but he dusted himself off and dispatched the ball from the resulting free kick neatly into the bottom corner with Heaton un-moved. Has he just saved Emery's job? Who knows but boy did Arsenal need that to go in and win them the game.
Ratings:
Emery: 5 - Every game that passes seems to bring about more confusion and more questions into whether Emery knows his best team and how much the team buy into his ways of working, today was no different and felt like a 'get out of jail free' card with sheer desire and individual quality shining through. Their felt no structure or cohesiveness to defending or attacking and it left Arsenal badly exposed in the first half particularly, another game where it's difficult to see the tactical thinking to the game. Equally difficult to see quite why Ozil was being 'rested' if he wasn't going to start today. Deserves some credit for the 2 subs which was questioned at the time, but changed the game in our favour.
Leno: 6 - Little he could do for either goal, can't fault a goalkeeper for being badly exposed by the defenders in front of him. Caught a few crosses well under some pressure but otherwise did little in the game.
AMN: 5 - Whilst the second yellow felt harsh and un-deserved, you could argue it was also naive to even go to ground when on a booking picked up inside the first 15 minutes of the game, certianly didn't help his cause.
Sokratis: 5 - I have some sympathy for Sokratis who is exposed time and time again by a non-existent midfield. Somewhat coped but allowed Grealish to get past him too easily for Villa's second and had a moment of madness trying to level up the number of men in the field, pathetically claiming Wesley had injured him despite an obvious headbutt into Wesley's leg.
Luiz: 4 - Arguably at fault for both goals and not his finest day. Does a lot that goes under the radar with Arsenal fans in general and again I sympathise for the same reasons as Sokratis, but no excuses for the defending of Villa's second.
Kolasinac: 5.5 - Crossing ability is just not good enough and didn't hit a single man. Did ok defensively though which is often his biggest criticism, made 2 good recoveries in particular during the 1st half to win the ball back.
Xhaka: 4.5 - After 90 minutes on Thursday he looked a yard off the pace for large parts of the match before being substituted. The sideways passes were fine but ultimately didn't do much else without making any sort of contribution defensively. Also managed to add another silly yellow card to his name.
Guendouzi: 6.5 - Industrial as ever throughout the match and was badly at fault for Villa's opener showing a lack of defensive awareness. Considerably improved when given more freedom to roam in the second half and dictate play. Hit the post, won a penalty, and played a good ball into the box that forced Chambers's equaliser.
Ceballos: 6 - Strangely looked a yard off the pace despite only playing 20 minutes on Thursday. Tried but struggled to create and find the penetrative passes that might open up a stubborn Villa defence. It was perhaps in hindsight a game better suited to Ozil's more imaginative creativity.
Saka: 6.5 - Deserved to start after his brilliance on Thursday and looked extremely bright early on and was a threat but Villa were a more stubborn opposition. Unfortunate to be the one sacrificed after the red card, though understandable.
Aubameyang: 7 - An explosive burst into the box brought a foul that allowed him to strike a wonderful free kick to win us the game. Didn't get many chances and was starved of service but his off the ball running and energy was certainly impressive once again.
Pepe: 7 (MOTM) - A huge threat in the first half when on the right wing and really looked up for the game. Villa struggled to cope with his trickery and made himself a few good chances. A change of system following the red card limited his involvement from the wing where he is best suited but he still looked to make things happen. Deserved his goal, from the spot or not.
Chambers: 6.5 - Partially at fault for the first goal albeit there was much more criminal defending after his error. Showed great character to pick himself up afterwards and play very well, getting forward to try and force an equaliser even if he isn't a natural right back. Wanted the ball more for his goal and his desire alone deserved the equaliser.
Torreira: 6 - Put himself about but seemed to play the right side of a 3 in midfield when he came on, which everyone but Emery seems to know isn't where he is best suited.
Willock: 6 - Together with Torreira brought a new energy and dynamism to the midfield and helped Arsenal go through the gears, felt much more balanced and helped keep up the relentless knocking at Villa's door.
Comments
Post a Comment