Arsenal 3 - 2 Aston Villa: Second half comeback sees Arsenal through

The FA Cup may not mean much to us nowadays but with the two Manchester clubs both out and a fair number of non-Premier League opposition, our chances of actually winning something had gone up quite a lot. Having lost our last three games, this game against Aston Villa had a lot riding on it.

We fielded a strong team - injuries and players being away on international duty ensured that - and we started the game well enough. We had a good amount of the ball and looked dangerous in patches, but there were not many moments where you could say we really tested Villa's defence. Rosicky and Ramsey tried to play penetrating passes but didn't have many options in front of them, Walcott got in behind once or twice but couldn't produce and Chamberlain floated in the odd cross that was easily dealt with by Villa's backline.

Not surprisingly, Villa made what limited attacks they had on our goal count. Arsenal made the mistake of only sending one player to press Villa's two when the short corner was played and it made it all too easy for them to work some space and measure a good cross. Keane provided it and Richard Dunne powered in a header having got the run on his markers.

Arsenal responded by moving the ball around quicker and working that little bit harder, but left themselves open on the counter. Villa exploited that and Darren Bent put them 2-0 ahead on the cusp of half-time.

What exapserated the disappointment at half-time was that our level of performance had not been good enough against a Villa side who were there for the taking. The team needed a bollocking at half-time.

Evidently, it seemed they got one since we came out all guns blazing in the second half, managing 8 shots, 89% possession and 3 goals in just 16 minutes. Shockingly enough, we were awarded two penalties at home after two rash challenges from Villa players and got a bit luck with our equaliser, but hey, we deserved that after improving our play and really forcing the issue.

The difference was clearly that our movement and passing were much faster and much more slick than it has been. There was some excellent link-up play between Ramsey, who had been pushed higher up the pitch, Walcott and van Persie and it was the improvement of Ramsey and Walcott in particular that made us a real threat down that side.

There were a couple of nervy moments afterwards but I think we held on pretty comfortably. Villa lost a large part of their attacking menace when Agbonlahor had to go off. Other than a couple of semi-dangerous set plays, Villa didn't pose much danger to us.

So 3-2 the final score.

Compare and contrast: first half and second half attacking unit
Our problem tonight in the first half was the attack. Although Villa had managed to capitalise on two lapses at the back, as a whole we were okay at the back and had the attack been better we could have easily lead by two or three goals at half-time. Fine margains, eh?

It's been a problem in the last month or so. Our offence has often looked slow with and without the ball. It wouldn't matter how much level of talent you have in your attack; if you're too slow with your movement and passing, you're not going to create openings and you're not going to score goals.

Keeping the ball outside the penalty area and in the opposition half doesn't seem to much of an issue. Penetrating the oppositon defence does. It's doesn't have much to do with the quality of the players there - individually, they're all good players - but rather a lack of confidence and a lack of understanding between them.

The second half, we played with pace and purpose and got our rewards. Ramsey made a confident and purposeful run forward for the first goal. Walcott attacked Villa's defence with purpose for the second and Koscielny made a run of actual purpose to get the third. A good attack is one that does things with the belief that they're going to beat their man, that their going to score and every good team has this.

Sometimes you just need that bit of luck
We can't forget about luck, of course. In bad spells, you sometimes just need something to go your way to help get things back on track and that's what happened for the second goal. Walcott almost ruined his good play by trying to be too cute with his finish, but the ball managed to ricochet off his head and into the goal. Though I do suppose fortune favours the brave. As I touched on in the above section, we got our rewards by being brave in attack and none of these goals would've happened if we wasn't trying to make our own luck.

We can't forget that we were actually awarded a penalty at home. Blatant penalties they were, but still something of a rare sight this season.

The fans got behind the team
A note on the fans: they could have easily turned against the team and sulked throughout the second half but they actually got behind their team. Maybe our improvement and the lack of a certain Russian helped, but still, it's nice to hear and it's something that absolutely must happen more often.

Time for some consistency
It was a very good win and it will surely raise morale. Now it's time to put together a run of results, starting with Bolton in mid-week. If we perform more like we did in the second half then we'll get the results required. Of that I have no doubt.

Player Ratings
L. Fabiasnki - 6. It's been so long that I've forgotten how to spell his first name... He didn't have much to do and wasn't at fault for anything.

Per Mertesacker - 7. I thought he played really well. He made some good tackles and interceptions and was unlucky not to have scored.

Laurent Koscielny - 6. Defenisvely I didn't think he was too solid tonight, but made up for it by winning a penalty.

Francis Coquelin - 6. Did okay against Agbonlahor.

Thomas Vermaelen - 6. Was not tested much defenisvely and was useful going forward.

Alex Song - 6. A better performance, though not one of particular note.

Tomas Rosicky - 7. A busy performance. He worked hard trying to make things happen and putting in good challenges.

Aaron Ramsey - 7. Second half he was excellent, being the real driving force in midfield.

Theo Walcott - 7. Like Ramsey, much improved in the second half.

Alex Chamberlain - 6. Had a quiet game.

Robin van Persie - 7. Scored both penalties with ease but didn't do much beyond that.

--------------------------

Bacary Sagna - n/a. Welcome back, Bac.

Mikel Arteta - n/a.

Thierry Henry - n/a.

WHAT.A.COMEBACK

I dare one of you to deny that miracles happen.

lmao. You make me laugh rewb

Dat second half

when RVP's goal entered i screamed like a bitch

GREAT COMEBACK by the Gooooners

Finished updating the first post.

@rewb

Yes, we kept possession tidy, but couldn't finish our chances for shit. Our defense was too far forward and they had 5 good chances in the 1st half. we were lucky to kick it up the way we did

Good performance 2nd half. But we couldn't be any worse. Saying that, not sure we deserved to be 2-0 at ht. Great finish from Bent though.

RVP 25 goals this season now, excellent. Great turn-around from us, Wenger did well at HT, evidently.

Decent ratings, think AOC should get 6.5.

Now we must focus on Bolton on Wednesday night.

Wonder who will start on wednesday

Arshavin.... might come in ?

Sagna will defo start, Maybe Coquelin at left back with Verm n Kos in the middle

Arteta back in, but Rosicky is playing so good atm. Will be a shame but he is crap on the wings

after today, oxlade should never start from bench again

Chamberlain wasn't great this match he was above average plus we still need creativity. Van Persie is so isolated upfront.

Do you really wanna drop Walcott after this performance? How did Chamberlain become a starter when he didn't even have a great performance at all. He was just good enough, nothing special.

Walcott was great in second half, Ramsey too.

I hope they continue this second half form in the next games.

Opinions always vary somewhat. I actually thought that walcott was lucky the ball was kicked at him bouncing off his shoulder into the goal or we would all be saying he did not do much. Ramsey seemed to run around the entire game chasing the ball and providing very little of anything.

My ratings:

Fabianski 6

Coquelin 5.5
Mertesacker 6
Koscielny 6.5
Vermaelen 6.5

Song 6.5
Ramsey 7
Rosicky 7.5

Walcott 7
Van Persie 7
Chamberlain 7

Ohh RVP was a naughty boy with that elbow.