Abou Diaby deflected Julio Baptista’s 9th minute shot past Thomas Sorensen to give the Gunners an early lead. They then proceeded to hold onto that slender lead for the next 81 minutes plus stoppage. In so doing, they earned a valuable three points which sees them leapfrog Liverpool into third place in the Prem.
I’m watching the replay right now, and with the lack of scoring touch on the pitch, it’s a wonder Arsenal managed to score a goal at all. In all honesty, this was exactly the type of game Arsenal would normally either draw or lose, so to pull a win out away from home is just what the doctor ordered.
It’s away again on Sunday, this time at Everton. Let’s hope the Gunners prove just the hangover cure I’ll surely be in need of. Kickoff is noon ET, and the match will be shown live here in the US on Fox Soccer Channel.
34 Responses to “Aston Villa 0 - 1 Arsenal”
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March 14th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Recap of Villa v. Arsenal: Well it isnt pretty to say the least. Our first touch was not very well tonight, our midefield was ineffective at times, and our back four looked shaky at best! Diaby’s goal was nice, he basically stuck his foot out after Baptista shot and deflected the ball in the right corner of the goal, it left Sorenson standing still in his tracks!! Usually when the Arsenal puts in a performance like this they lose, or at best draw, but tonight we got one! Our subs were Flamini for Baptista (didnt agree with), Rosicky for Diaby, and finally at the death big Phil for Aliadiere (sp). Just a few minutes on Flamini made a horrific back pass and almost sent Carew I believe straight through to goal, but we got lucky. Lehman had a solid performance, was a bit shaky on some the freekicks, and corners, but all in all good. We gave up way too many freekicks w/in site of our goal, stupid little jiggly fouls that can cost us, just as it did in the PSV match. Overall a headscratching performance from the Gunners, but nomatter 3 points, is 3 points! Up the Arsenal!!
March 14th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Wenger MUST get rid of Flamini.
March 14th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I completely agree..He is not a premiership calibre player..He would struggle to make most premiership 1st teams.
March 14th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Don’t forget the fact that we scored first and early.
When we score first, and when we do that in the first half, we win. Yes, we also win in other ways, but first/early has given us alomst perfect results - the lone exception was the Carling Cup final.
Arsenal has not been a first-half scoring team this season. In fact, we scored a goal in the first half in only 19 of the 49 matches this season (all competitions).
In those 19 games, we are W 16 - D 0 - L 3. The three loses were the Carling Cup final and the two late November matches at Fulham and at Bolton.
I believe more games with more first half goals would have given us more wins. To me, it has been more common than not that we are almost waiting for something to happen in the first half rather than playing with our hair on fire (that sense of 90-minute urgency normally exhibited by Chelsea and Man U as mentioned by DannyT recently).
March 14th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Denilson appears to be a better player than Cesc in several fields. For one, he is more solid and faster. When Cesc dwells on the ball I always fear that he is going to concede possession but not with Denilson. Denilson also has pinpoint crosses and his corner kicks look much better than any other Arsenal player’s….
March 14th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Why did Gilberto play CB instead of Djourou? Once Gilberto played, we shouldn’t have maintained a high line. Gilberto has no pace and Carew killed him on many occasions. Thankfully, we didn’t concede.
By the way, how different was Djourou’s foul on Carew from that of Sendy on Yakubu? Except that the referee got the decision and card colour right yesterday.
March 15th, 2007 at 1:58 am
I thought we were poor all over the pitch yesterday. The defense was completely at sea against Villa and we could’ve lost 3-1 yesterday. We havent still seen Kolo n Gallas for some time together in central defense. We didnt really have too many options apart from playing Gallas at LB with Djourou or Sendy in the middle so I cant complain too much.
I dont think Ali will be here come next season although he really runs himself into the ground with little end product. Maybe he just needs to ease up a little , he’s probably trying too hard. Baptista was pretty anonymous though he still popped up in positions once in a while. Diaby n Hoyte were poor on the left passing wise and I counted atleast twice each of them gave the ball away ..first half. Overall though Diaby has a languid lazy style of play..almost effortless and he does give us that presence on the pitch. If Gilberto goes next year we have a replacement…readymade..AW needs to give him more and more games next year.
Cesc n Denilson were decent without being spectacular apart from the few set pieces that they took. Why do we hit the first man all the time?? Guess its just not part of us…set play goals.
Carew nearly killed Gilberto yesterday and Gallas was solid again. I think the main reason AW’s playing Gilberto in CB is to give Diaby more playing time. Overall a scrappy performance which we just about nicked by the skin of our teeth. If it’d been a better team we’d have lost.
BTW Freddie looked lively yesterday…probably our best attacking player. I think that says it all.
March 15th, 2007 at 3:09 am
I am happy with the win. I’ll take the points over the display.
Our striker problems continue. Ali had 3 great chances in the 1st half but missed them all. Bap was largely anonymous and wasn’t happy to be substituted. I doubt AW has made up his mind on him.
Diaby was a little rusty. I would prefer to see him central. For next two away games at Everton and Liverpool, I don’t mind seeing a 4-5-1 with Gilberto and Diaby together.
Ljunberg’s mind is sharp but his body is not.
Quite how we will win games with a strike force of Bap + Ade + Ali remains to be seen. But as long as we win, I don’t mind.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:57 am
I think Wenger is playing Gilberto in defence to give Denilson more playing time, not Diaby. And I think Denilson deserves to be in the team, he is playing so mature, just like Cesc when he broke in the team.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Diaby didn’t stick his foot out and redirect it towards the goal, it accidentally hit his foot and went in. Why do you try to make out it was meant when it was complete fluke? Terrible, biased opinion.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:40 am
The decision to give a free kick was correct but Djourou should have been sent off as Carew was just about to strike the ball so Gallas’ vicinity was irrelevent.
Or at least that’s what you would say if it was the other way around, but because you watch everything with biased eyes you refuse to see the truth.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:59 am
I am not surprised Wenger replaced Baptista becos he was ineffective. I am surprised that he was replaced very early in the 2nd half - very unlike Wenger to do so. Wenger’s explanation is Baptista had a back injury but I wonder how would he know since Baptista appear surprised to be replaced. Maybe Wenger has had enough of Baptista poor performance and decided enough is enough.
March 15th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
True enough - Diaby had no idea the ball was even coming his way since his back was to the ball and he was looking forward. Totally fluke goal, but I’ll take ‘em any way I can get him. And Wenger isn’t going to get rid of Flamini anytime soon. He has always had a sub-standard player that he can stick in anywhere when needed (see Grimandi, Gilles or Stepanovs, Igor).
March 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
We haven’t scored a goal from quality plays, yet we scored a “lampard-style” goal from a poor display. It’s a nice change from the recent weeks where we deserved to win all the games but our possession and domination amounts to nothing.
I don’t care how we play, as long as we get 3 points. Yes, we have yet again missed easy chances and were lucky to not concede a penalty and lucky Villa did not punish us with a last minute goal.
We’ll play beautiful football again when our squad is healthy and regain sharpness.. but until then, it’s good to know we are capable of scrapping out a win by playing ugly. We now have the rest of the season to perfect our plan B (playing ugly an winning 1-nil to the arse) so that next season when we hit rough patches again we still know how to grind out a result like ManU and Chelski this season.
March 15th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Always?? In 2003-04 and 2004-05, whom would you say fit the description of sub-standard player who could be inserted anywhere? In any event, I hope your analysis is wrong because, as a midfielder, Flamini hurts more than he helps. I will concede he was a great stop-gap left back last year but that’s clearly not where he wishes to play so Wenger should ship him somewhere where his skills are commensurate with those of his teammates.
March 15th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Biased, doubt it, I watched the game live on Setanta, with the replays, call it a fluke whatever, he knew what he was doing. Unless you speak to Abou directly and can quote him otherwise than I will state whatever I believe to be fact, goal perfectly directed in by Diaby! I have been to Highbury countless times, and I have seen DB-10 do the samething countless times and I promise they weren’t flukes. Abou did what he did because the shot was of poor quailty. Look at the replay and honestly tell me that shot was going in from Baptista, Diaby knew it, and Diaby redirected it!
March 15th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
News reports today disclose that Walcott and Wenger have decided that Walcott should undergo his shoulder surgery now and that Wenger believe late April is the earliest that Van Persie might return. This likely means that, for last 10 games of season, Wenger will only have 3 strikers from which to choose, Baptista, Aliadiere, and Adebayor. For Everton, Wenger can only pick Julio and Jeremy. Also, for Sunday, Wenger has already announced that Clichy and Eboue will not play and only Toure from defense will return. Hleb however may be back. Given absence of Henry, RvP, and Walcott for remainder of campaign, I fear last 10 games will give us plenty of opportunities to determine whether Arsenal can win ugly.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I saw RvP and Ryan Babel in the stands in the AZ Alkmaar - Newcastle match. It seems that they are very close friends. In January Babel said he was in London to visit RvP and now our Dutchman was in Holland to visit Babel. If Babel decides to leave Ajax and Wenger wants to sign him, I think there is no doubt where will he end up.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Pascal Cygan.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Sendy
Freddie
Bap
Hleb
Flamini
Song
Almunia
Eboue
Ali
Hoyte
Muamba
Henry
Those are 12 players that we (myself included) have said (at one time or another) need to go from the team this year on this site. Fully one third of the first team. There may be more but thats all I can remember right now. Should ManUre dump Rooney cuz he’s been no better than average this year? Or maybe Chelski should get rid of Robben. For me Getting rid of even half of these players would be ludicris!
I wish we could have 25-30 players in world class or top prem class all year but no team I have ever seen has had that.
I am an Arsenal fan. I will admit that this year has been frustrating at times. But i’m sure glad i picked them to support when I was a kid! We hav a fantastic squad that needs teaking, not a crap side that always seems to under achieve or fight relegation i.e. Spurs or Man city.
Oh yeah just so everybody knows I am biased towards the Arsenal. I am a member of a supporters club doncha know! Can’t there be just a little bit of hero worship directed towards people who can do things I can only dream about?:)
GO GUNNERS!
March 16th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Ok, so you got it wrong and your embarrassed - no need to make yourself look an even bigger idiot by insisting in was genuine. No, the shot was not going in, what’s that got to do with it? It was a crappy shot that just happened to hit his foot and fly in.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
We were going to lose to Villa 4-1 and you were so sure we'd lose to United at home you were prepared to bet on it.? For someone as full what you call 'bad opinions' as you are, it's remarkable you continue to beat people over the head for what you say are theirs.? You talk sense a good percentage of the time, Danny.? But you seem completely unaware of the smell of your own crap.? That makes the remainder of your posts sound like the cranky drunk in the corner of the pub that thinks the volume with which he speaks with somehow makes the content true.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Appreciate it bro’, I refuse to lower myself to calling ppl names like “idiot”, that stuff is beneath me. I love the Arsenal and I will always be positive about them no matter how it goes over with the rest of the fan base. I totally respect everyones opinion on here even DannyT, I know that may seem a bit funny, but he has a right to speak his mind, sometimes ppl need to chill a bit and relax, its a club we all obviously love or we wouldn’t be on here posting our comments, views, etc…. So to DannyT I thankyou for your comments, but I could do without the name calling, it’s never gotten anyone anywhere.
Thanks again.
March 16th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Sorry if I caused offence.
March 17th, 2007 at 1:25 am
Wenger gives useful information on Arsenal.com
Bendtner will come back with a bang - He expects Bendtner to compete with the likes of Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie up front. … Fabrice Muamba might stay one more year at Birmingham. Seb Larsson and Anthony Stokes have signed permanently while Lupoli has gone to Fiorentina because he was free. But Kerrea Gilbert might come back and Alex Song will.
I guess that seals Ali’s future.
Gilberto is going nowhere - Ars?ne Wenger has slammed the door shut on the possibility of Gilberto moving to Juventus. … we might well extend because he is an important player for us.
That’s good news. We don’t want to lose an important and experienced player.
Baptista puts team ahead of himself - Ars?ne Wenger has praised Julio Baptista for putting the needs of the Arsenal team ahead of his desire to secure a permanent move to Emirates Stadium. … He is right in that frame of mind and he will work hard for the team even if it damages his efficiency.
While it’s good to put the interests of the team first, I hope this doesn’t mean we are signing one more striker who will pass the ball around instead of shooting.
March 17th, 2007 at 1:46 am
Taking hints from Arsene’s comments, the team for next season looks like
GK - Lehmann or new GK, Almunia, Poom
FB - Eboue, Hoyte, Clichy, Gilbert, Traore
CB - Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Djourou
CM - Gilberto, Fabregas, Diaby, Denilson, Flamini, Song
WM - Rosicky, Hleb, Walcott, Ljunberg
FW - Henry, RvP, Ade, Bap, Bendtner
Just one gaping hole - no winger.
March 17th, 2007 at 11:06 am
You are correct.
You can’t field ALL superstars. Its not possible financially for us, nor is it the best approach. (see the New York Yankees)
You need ROLE PLAYERS. You need unsung heroes who don’t mind getting dirty, and don’t mind that they are not going to score 10 goals, they are just happy working their ass off, and helping the team win.
RAY PARLOUR comes to mind.
I see Flamini being that sort of player. Can play various positions and contribute in that way.
You also have to play some young players. That means putting up with hot and cold performances, it takes time to adapt and grow as a player.
It is not that long ago that Gilberto was a scapegoat… people said he sucked and wasn’t Arsenal quality… shouldn’t be in the team… all that utter crap.
Now its accepted that he is ESSENTIAL to the team. Juventus is eyeing him… and other big teams probably are as well…
so yes… I’d like to see us keep many of those mentioned.
The fact that Henry is on even near this list… tells you how fickle fans can be one game to the next, let alone one season to the next.
Not every year can be a smashing success for the team, so why expect every year to be brilliant for players.
A prime example, Manchester United. Giggs and Scholes have been excellent this year… a big reason why they will win the league, and have a chance at a 3 trophies. Going on their form from the previous year or two… they’d have been run out of town if they played for us!
March 17th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Nicely said. Very fair, as well.? We all get frustrated and this is an especially frustrating period.? Believe me, I don't think it has to be kumbaya and love beads among us all the time. Of course, we're going to have disagreements.? It is a footy message board.? It just seemed like the level of aggro was getting unnecessarily high and over silly things.? Where are the laughs, boys??
I'm a Gooner since '98, but new to ArseAm this season.? I learn a lot from a number of you o?n here, and Danny is absloutely o?n that list.? I do appreciate it.
(For the record, even in this case, I agree with DT. Absolute luck that ball bouncing off Diaby's foot. But we've missed enough easy goals after loads of gorgeous football that I don't feel remotely bad about it.? Win another o?ne ugly tomorrow, Gunners.? Whatever it takes.)
March 17th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Don’t forget the quality that the aged Larsson showed during his cameo. To bring him back from a rinky-dink team turned out to be a great move by Ferguson. It was also a class gesture bestowed on Larsson. Does that mean there’s hope for Ljungberg to turn it aroud?
Bottom line is we really don’t know about where are young players are going (hopefully upward) and when they will arrive (tommorow at Everton)). We’d like to think that studying players is akin to studying tea leaves. Not. We all pontificate/prognosticate about players in the hope that some of the manure we spread around might stick. That is just our egos speaking in most cases. That is why I can praise Senderos for his effort while damning his mistakes, lambasting his lack of speed and criticizing his poor tactical awareness. He ‘may’ grow into the next John Terry. Wouldn’t that be a kick in our collective a***s.
March 17th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
We are in a very good position in the league.
2 games in hand on 5th place Bolton… who United thashed… and up by 8 points at the moment.
I don’t think we can screw that advantage up. We look good for the CL next season barring complete collapse.
I don’t know how WestHam got into their current predicament… based on their players, they should be better than many of the teams above them. Hell, they were a few minutes away from winning the FA Cup last year.
And speaking of West Ham…
Carlos Tevez.
From what I have seen of him… he is a VERY GOOD player. He will be excellent for somebody next year. All the hoopla about his was correct.
Its going to be difficult to watch even the results of the Champion’s League going forward… because I have to believe an English team is going to WIN it.
And I can possibly hope for any of them to win.
I don’t want Liverpool winning again… Chelsea are not likable… and if they won, Mourinho would be even more ridiculous than he is now…
and if United win… they might win another Treble.
Can’t Watch.
March 17th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Danny's a good guy in the end. Don't worry too much about it. He & I have had some pretty big knockdown dragout arguments before but in the end, he's pretty insightful if albeit he comes off as blunt & too direct sometimes with his comments. But then again… so can I!
March 18th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Did you see the way ManU demolished Bolton? They used pace to devastating effect (helped by some poor defending and goalkeeping). Something Arsenal used to do in the Invincible season.
March 18th, 2007 at 8:01 am
No offence taken bro; keep on posting!
UP THE ARSENAL
March 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am
I was not commenting on Tevez in regard to us getting him.
(though his skills and toughness wouldn’t hurt)
I was merely thinking out loud… that I think he will be excellent for somebody, especially if he is on a good team, surrounded by talented players.