What a lovely thing to type, especially after a few drinks and a beautiful meal with an old friend. Truly, a fine day.
So here we are third, after a horrendous start, and now just one win off the top of the charts. I really can’t believe how good a manager Unai Emery is, even though he keeps proving it time and again. And I thought the Brighton win was something.
Well, it was. Falling behind 0-2 and winning? That’s not Villa. Then doing that and taking down the Arse two-slash-three days after such an emotional and mental expenditure, a team that hadn’t lost in 17 matches? Madness. Don’t even talk to me about their back line. We’ve got Konsa and Torres. That’s it. Throw Bogarde or Lindlölf in there in an emergency. That’s all we’ve got. Emery plans around that, makes demands, no excuses. Mikel got found out tactically and managerially again, simple as.
I’ve stopped believing in common sense, in players on paper. I’m back to believing that Emery can simply will Villa to victory. I mean, Buendia coming on that late to score the winner? Emery knew what he was unleashing, a little madman in an attacking substitution that has the heat in his heart to make a difference. Onana pushing him in front of the Holte to have his moment? Priceless.
What a moment of quality. What a moment of vindication.
I know I hadn’t written anything following Brighton midweek, which was also epic. Villa just don’t come back to score four after going two behind. We just don’t.
Until we do.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Villa are punching above their weight: We’re the second-oldest side; we have only a couple of players who’d start for anyone above us; we’re still largely the team Deano built.
And here we are.
So all I’m going to say is hats off to Emery. Hats off to the players for buying in and digging in. There’s simply nothing not to like about what’s happening however short-lived it may or may not be. For this side to be where they’re at at any point is a monument to all involved.
And fuck the press focusing on what it means to Arsenal. I get it, but really. Maybe focus on what’s great about football.
Over to you.
Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Fuck the Papers
“Villa are punching above their weight: We’re the second-oldest side; we have only a couple of players who’d start for anyone above us”
DO YOU WANT TO BET AGAINST US?
These are halcyon days. Pictures of Villa players running in all directions, Arse players flat on the grass, mayhem in the stands. It will live long in the memory. And 27 points from the last 10 games. Don’t pinch me.
Great day and result. We are now seeing a team that can flex between rest and rampage during a game, depending on game state and player energy. That is worth a lot of points over a season if we can keep it going.
That is twice in 3 days that they’ve reached into the energy reserves to wrestle the momentum of a game back in their favour. Maximum credit to the players. That’s real high quality football.
Also I’m really happy with the squad utilisation. Bogarde and Lindelöf brought on with the game at 1-1. Watkins, Onana, McGinn, Cash, Torres all given rest time. There’s confidence and trust between Unai and the squad. Again it will be interesting to see if Harvey Elliott starts to play from the West Ham game going forwards.
But this was a big step forwards. To go from scraping past Wolves to outpunching Arsenal is a big confidence booster
Lovely piece, John – and what a day !!!
We are on a good run. 100%. But wait until the end of January and see if we are still in the CL places.
Dec 21: MU at home
Dec 27: Chelsea at home
Dec 30: @Arsenal
Jan 3: Forest at home
Jan 7: @Palace
Jan 18: Everton at home
Jan 25: @Newcastle
I can easily see 4-5 losses in these 7. We will need to stay healthy and Unai will need something special.
It’s a slog alright
The games are coming thick and fast and thoughts are turning to Basel on Thurs. We’re in the midst of a shit evil Dec fixture list that must be carefully managed. Expecting Unai to do some serious rotation. The Europa League is entering the business end of its league phase and we are currently set fair in third place. But I still believe we need something from this game. Unai will have one eye I’m sure on West ‘Ammm at the weekend meaning this fan will be nervous. We all remember Go Ahead Eagles.
Two things: I finally read a couple fully focused pieces on Villa, one on the relative bargain value of our front line compared to others, and another on the job Emery has done. So…took a bit, but better late than never.
Second, put a new page up.
COYVB