At least we got to leave Birmingham (eventually)

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Fuck Aston Villa. Fuck Birmingham.

I usually love a Brum away day. An hour and 20 on the train and a few decent boozers in and around the stadium. I do not even mind then having to get another train to the slums that Villa, WBA or Birmingham reside in. It is always a decent trip.

The writing was on the wall before we even left Euston as they train we were on got cancelled. A complete lack of communication from West Midlands Railway meant no-one knew what was going on.

It was only 20 minutes after our scheduled departure that we heard from the train driver as they announced the train was cancelled and what platform the next one was leaving from. And then that train was delayed…

The last time I had suffered such a bad departure from Euston was a few years back when we played Manchester City. All trains were cancelled due to something at Watford and then, just as we were about to go to the Royal George, the line re-opened. We arrived into the ground 10-minutes late and were 4-0 down at half time.

Back to Saturday…

As we approached Northampton, we were informed that we would have to change trains to another that was awaiting our arrival. A train full of passengers were then met with an already packed train waiting for us due to the previous Northampton to Birmingham train being cancelled. And things only got busy as we went through Coventry and beyond and discovered more trains ahead of us had been cancelled.

Eventually we got into Birmingham for a quick couple of pints before heading to Witton.

What then followed was a fairly average Arsenal performance against a fairly unimpressive Aston Villa.

They are brilliant at home, and Villa Park is certainly a lot louder now than it was a few years back when they were battling relegation playing in front of a stadium that was 20% empty.

Like many clubs, there recent “success” has seen a return of fans that abondoned them during the dark days. The breed of fan that sing about winning a European Cup when things are good, and then go to the Christmas market instead when things turn.

And things will turn at Villa.

It will not take too much for someone like Emi Martinez to go from cult hero to hated. His constant desire to time waste at every opportunity will soon grate for Villa fans. Likewise, their fickle fans will soon turn on Unai Emery the moment they go on a bad run. I would not be surprised if Graham Potter or Eddie Howe is managing them in 18-months time.

They are very much like Newcastle. A good few months has gone to their heads and now they think they are a top club again. Newcastle were great season. This seaosn they are 7th (at the time of writing), and fans are beginning to call for Eddie Howe’s head and demanding an upgrade on “best in the world” Nick Pope. Villa will be the same in a year.

So we lost the game, and once again the refereeing performance has proved Mikel Arteta and Arsenal right. Officiating in this country is not good enoug,

The elbow on Eddie Nketiah, the clear and obvious penalty, and the wrongly disallowed goal. Arteta was sitting in the stands after recieiving 3-yellow cards, and has basically been silences by the Premier League and PGMOL who have made it very clear that their officials are above criticism.

So we head home feeling a little down, but at least we will be back in London by midnight. Or so we thought.

In a repeat of what happened on the way to the game, the train we were on was cancelled 45 minutes after its scheduled departure. Again, West Midlands Railway failed to let anyone know anything until the decision was made to cancel the train. Apparantly it was due to a lack of guards…

Those that managed to get on the (very, very busy) train before us ended up having to change 4 times, turning a 2 hour return journey into a 3 and a half hour hell ride. But they were the lucky ones.

With our train cancelled and no more leaving for London, the train company had to put on cabs and coaches to get us home. It is a 10pm on Saturday night in Birmingham. Not an easy task.

The first cabs started arriving at around 11:30, but it was ones and twos, not a fleet. And no sign of a coach. A quick shout out to the New Street concourse staff who were all polite and did a great job letting us know what they knew. All apologetic on how long things were taking.

One single coach then arrived at shortly after midnight that 50 folks then jumped onto, still leaving loads of us left. Luckily it was not too cold or wet.

Being the gentleman I am, I was at the back of the queue. Happy to let others got first. Eventually I got one of the last taxis at around 2.30am, getting back into Euston at 4.30 on Sunday morning.

Getting to Euston would not be the end of my journey. It would be another hour, two more trains and taxi before I would walk through my door in Loughton.

Despite the travels and tribulations, I finally got into my bed at around 5.30m in the morning. Tired, defeated, but at least I did not live in Birmingham!

Saturday was just our 2nd defeat of the season. Newcastle (oddly enough, Newcastle also had huge train issues!) and Aston Villa are not easy to go. And made tougher when we face such poor referee’s. 2nd in the league. We are in this title race.

Keenos

MATCH REPORT: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

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Aston Villa (1) 1 Arsenal (0) 0

Premier League

Villa Park, Trinity Road, Birmingham B6 6HE

Saturday, 9th December 2023. Kick-off time: 5.30pm

(4-3-3) David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Ødegaard (c), Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah, Jakob Kiwior, Cédric Soares, Leandro Trossard, (Jorge Luiz Frello Filho) Jorginho, Reiss Nelson, Mohamed Elneny, Reuell Walters.

Yellow Cards: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Declan Rice

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 61%

Referee: Jarred Gillett 

Assistant Referees: Darren Cann, James Mainwaring

Fourth Official: Graham Scott

VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR Michael Salisbury; AVAR Scott Ledger

Attendance: c.42,000

Mikel Arteta has picked up his third booking of the season celebrating Declan Rice’s winner at Kenilworth Road last Tuesday and will have to watch today’s match against Aston Villa from the stands, which is ridiculous. On the other hand, our captain Martin Ødegaard is set to make his one hundredth Premier League appearance at Villa Park. There is only one change from the Tuesday match against Luton Town, and that is Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is preferred at left-back with Jakub Kiwior dropping to the substitute’s bench.

Straight from the kick-off, the home side came right out of the blocks at us, and although we seemed to barely get out of our half, we did manage to break out with Gabriel Martinelli running down the left wing and crossing the ball for Bukayo Saka, but he was just unable to connect with the ball. However, after just seven minutes, we were a goal down when Villa captain John McGinn turned and shot the ball past David Raya to open the scoring, so early in the match. The goal certainly unbalanced us, with the home side getting the bit between their teeth and pressurising us back into our own half, actively looking for that elusive second goal of the game. Just after a quarter of an hour, Kai Havertz dispossessed Boubacar Kamara, slotted the ball towards Bukayo Saka, whose left-footed shot was blocked by the Villa defence. Shortly afterwards, Bukayo Saka perfectly timed his run to beat the Aston Villa offside trap to go around former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but the angle was far too tight and the home side defenders cleared his attempted pullback, which was a shame, as it was a great effort. Oleksandr Zinchenko received a yellow card for pulling the shirt of Youri Tielemans, and we started to play with purpose and desire in the Villa half looking for that elusive equaliser. Declan Rice grabbed the ball from John McGinn, passed the ball neatly to Bukayo Saka, but his curling effort was athletically pushed away by the Villa goalie. Ten minutes before the break, Martin Ødegaard let a beautiful ball from Bukayo Saka run across him, he took a delicate touch to balance himself and hit a low, strong shot which went inches past the Villa post, and then Gabriel Martinelli deftly beat the Villa offside trap, and neatly chipped the ball over Emiliano Martinez but Diego Carlos managed to run back and clear the danger. So close. We were closing in hard on the Villa defence, as a lovely touch from Gabriel Jesus set up Martin Ødegaard, who pushed the ball into space before shooting low and hard towards the bottom corner of the net, but the Villa goalie was there on hand to stop a possible equaliser. A couple of minutes before half-time, a quick shot from Gabriel Jesus brought out a reflex save from Emiliano Martinez. During the two minutes injury time, Gabriel Martinelli hit a shot over the Villa crossbar, and despite some great chances, we went into the hiatus a goal down.

The home side started the second half proceedings, and almost immediately we had a penalty appeal turned down by both the referee and VAR officials when Gabriel Jesus went to ground after a poor tackle. We were applying pressure to the Villa defence, and were pinning Villa down in their own half. They could not get out, and we could not score at that present moment in time. Stalemate. However, we won a free-kick in a promising position on the right wing when Lucas Digne pulled Bukayo Saka back by his shorts, but the subsequent set-piece went nowhere. After a lovely movement, our captain had a good chance to score, but his attempt went wide of the mark, sadly. Lucas Digne smacked a sweet low strike at the Arsenal goal, drawing a good save from David Raya. Bukayo Saka got the ball into the net just after the hour, but it was cancelled out for an offside infringement. We were dominating the second half, but just could not find the right comnination to undo the Villa defence, although we had to be careful as we almost got caught by a “smash’n’grab” movement by the home side when Moussa Diaby found a lot of space out on the right and picked out Ollie Watkins in the middle of the pitch, but fortunately his weak shot was easily gathered up by David Raya. Leandro Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli with twenty minutes of the match remaining, and after John McGinn received a yellow card for an appalling tackle on our captain, Declan Rice received our second yellow card of the game for a silly tackle. Eddie Nketiah replaced Gabriel Jesus as the match entered the last ten minutes of the contest, and then Leandro Trossard went down to the floor after a tussle with Matty Cash, but was soon able to return to action shortly afterwards. After a clash between Diego Carlos and Eddie Nketiah, literally on the ninetieth minute, Kai Havertz got the ball in the Villa net, but after a consultation with the VAR officials, the goal was cancelled out, sadly. In the first minute of injury time, Oleksandr Zinchenko was replaced by Reiss Nelson, and almost immediately we were put under pressure by the Villa forwards, but thankfully we managed to keep the ball away from David Raya. We continued to put pressure on the home side, but unfortunately, it was not to be our day in Birmingham.

Okay, there were times when we were not firing on all cylinders in the first half, but after half-time, we surely did enough to grab a draw at Villa Park, despite a hotly disputed penalty appeal and incredibly, a poor decision by the match officials in denying us an equaliser on the ninetieth minute. One of those days, sadly, on another day we would have done enough to draw, or even win, but it was not to be, unfortunately. But we are still in second place behind current leaders Liverpool with just a mere point separating the two clubs.

Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: PSV Eindhoven at Phillips Stadion on Tuesday, 12th December at 5.45pm(Champions League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon

Villa man to be “next Trossard” for The Arsenal

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When we signed Leandro Trossard I was very underwhelmed.

To go from chasing one of the most exciting raw talents in Europe to ending up with a journeyman at one third of the cost was a bit deflating. And that is why I am a blogger (that makes no money from his blogs), rather than work for Arsenal.

Anyone that says that they were excited by the arrival of Trossard last January would be a liar. I think almost everyone shared my view on the transfer.

One goal in 20 league games in the 2nd half of last season might indicate that he was a poor signing to those with such linear thinking when it comes to statistics. To present that as a representation of what he contributed would ignore his 10 assists.

Only 4 players assisted more during the entire of last season than Trossard did in an Arsenal shirt (Kevin de Bruyne, Mo Salah, Bukayo Saka and Michael Olise).

This season he has 6 goals in 14 games across all competitions, as well as a further 2 assists. The Belgium and Gabriel Martinelli are providing a perfect axis for us that allows the left hand side to maintain 100% intensity for 90 minutes.

Trossard has been a terrific signing.

In the same way I was underwhelmed by Trossard’s signing, there is a similar feeling amongst Arsenal fans about our links to Douglas Luiz – I have learned my lesson and think he is a ideal for Arsenal.

With Thomas Partey’s Arsenal journey coming to an end, Arsenal probably need to go into the market in January to recruit someone who can provide cover and competition to Declan Rice.

You would also hope that the replacement can also become an option further forward, giving us an alternative to the more attacking Kai Havertz / Trossard option. Someone a bit more defensive minded who can replicate the solidity that Granit Xhaka gave us.

I recently blogged how Olexsandr Zinchenko could be this player once Jurrien Timber returns from injury – having the options of Timber, Tomiyasu and White at full back would allow Zinchenko to be an option in the midfield. But with Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny also heading for the exit door in the next 6-months, and Timber still 2 or 3 months away from returning, signing someone in January could be key to our title hopes.

Everytime I look into who can do this role, I keep coming to one man – Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz.

Like Trossard, Luiz is certainly not a big name and would be joining from a mid-table Premier League team.

The Arteta / Edu era has seen us look to players with Premier League experience more often than not when it comes to new signings – Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.

Nearly 75% of what we have spent since 2021 has gone on players with Premier League experience.

Going for Premier League players means they are less risk. They do not need to adapt to a new club, in a new league, in a new country. They are more likely to hit the ground running. Declan Rice as exhibit A.

Luiz has been in the Premier League since 2019. In that time he has clocked up over 170 games for Villa in England.

Many of those appearances have come as Villa’s deepest midfielder. A single pivot whilst the likes of John McGinn, Emi Buendía, Philippe Coutinho or Youri Tielemans played further ahead.

This season, with the recruitment of Boubacar Kamara and departure of Coutinho, Luiz has played further advanced.

Luiz has the right mix of defensive awareness and tenacity, combined with wonderful technique. He is Aston Villa’s best passer and anything positive they do tends to come through him.

You could certainly see Luiz in an Arsenal shirt, as cover for Rice defensively and as an option to compete with Kai Havertz further forward.

He has a contract expiring in 18-months, so Villa only really have this window and the next to make any sort of money for him. The fee being floated about right now is £60m.

£60m might seem expensive for someone who would become a squad player, but it is a figure that we could work with.

Partey is costing us £9m a year in amortised transfer fees and a further £10m a year in wages. A total of £19m a year.

£60m for Luiz would see his amortised cost be £12m. An increase on his £4m Villa wages to £6m (£115k a week) would cost Arsenal a total of £18m a year. So despite the big transfer fee, Luiz would actually cost us less a year than Partey.

You would also hope that we can flog Partey to the Middle East, get a fee of around £30m+. That fee would offset some of what we play for Luiz.

I learned with Trossard to trust in Edu and Arteta’s judgement. They have come on a long way from Willian / Cedric / Mari.

Douglas Luiz might now be the global superstar some will demand, but I think he would make the perfect midfield recruit.

Anyone that watched the Manchester City game will know that today will not be easy.

Aston Villa have won 14 home games in a row, a wrong that goes back to last February when The Arsenal won 4-2.

In that time, Villa have beaten Newcastle, Tottenham and now Manchester City.

It is probably too early to call them title contenders, but if they win today they will be just 1 point off top spot (2 if Liverpool beat Palace in the early kick off).

Unai Emery has got his team purring – not a surprise as he is a top manager who thrives at mid teams, getting them to play levels ahead of where they are.

Against City, they played a 4132 system, with a very narrow, compact midfield.

Boubacar Kamara sat behind a narrow trio of John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Douglas Luiz and Youri Tielemans. They overwhelmed Manchester City’s midfield.

City played into their hans by playing John Stones and Manuel Akanji in midfield, with Julian Alvarez and Rico Lewis ahead of them. Stones or Akanji might be able to do the job when alongside Rodri, but together they were hopeless.

Lewis is a bright young talent, but often it feels like Pep Guardiola plays him so that it can appear he is developing young talent. I do not think he starts for anyone else in the top 6. And Alvarez is a striker.

Today we need to ensure that we do not become over run in midfield, and match Villa’s work rate. For that reason I expect Jorginho to come in for Kai Havertz.

That then makes is a 3v2 match up in the middle (McGinn, Tielemans, Luiz v Rice and Jorginho). Considering Rice is a two-man midfield, we should be able to match them.

Due to them setting up so narrow, we could exploit the spaces they leave out wide. They will not have the resources to double up on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, whilst also keeping the middle compact. This will leave our wingers one-on-one with the Villa full-backs. Odegaard should have more space to roam as well if he can shake off Kamara.

It is going to be an interesting tactical game! UTA.

Keenos