Aston Villa v Arsenal Post Match Thread

[Lsvilla]

There was one moment yesterday where someone, can't recall who, played a pass towards Torres that didn't have enough legs on it.

Not only did he sprint forward and get to it first, he played an inch-perfect first-time pass out to Diaby on the wing.

He's top drawer.

I thought he was our best player yesterday but he’s been brilliant for ages now. I don’t really think Ive seen a defender like him, his passing is just outrageously good.

Me too, he's become a real leader in the team as well, always talking and organising things. There are many central defenders that you look at and think that if need be he could become a top drawer box2box midfielder..

Tweeting about how special Villa Park is too. He's a good'un.

[pauliewalnuts]

There was one moment yesterday where someone, can't recall who, played a pass towards Torres that didn't have enough legs on it.

Not only did he sprint forward and get to it first, he played an inch-perfect first-time pass out to Diaby on the wing.

He's top drawer.

I thought he was our best player yesterday but he’s been brilliant for ages now. I don’t really think Ive seen a defender like him, his passing is just outrageously good.

Me too, he's become a real leader in the team as well, always talking and organising things. There are many central defenders that you look at and think that if need be he could become a top drawer box2box midfielder..

Tweeting about how special Villa Park is too. He's a good'un.

Mentioned this earlier, but that build up for the goal, looks like he's about to pass sideways to Martinez, then turns and effortlessly swats one over a couple of Arsenal players to Ollie instead. Just brilliant to watch, such a cultured player, his passing is superb.

[pauliewalnuts]

He's just posted this on Instagram too:

[Exeter 77]

A happy former manager.

https://twitter.com/villaparkpod/status/1733607363611889734?s=19

[ChicagoLion]

One of us.

[wince]

Risso, you can always be relied on to find something you aren’t happy with even after a superb win.

It’s called having standards and never settling for second best.

Tedious more like, a constant whine after every game and yes that includes after pretty much every win.

I wasn't whining about anything, unlike you. I said our striker needs a rest, he does.


Edit: exactly the same as you said about Tielemans.

Arnie voice “stop whining”! 😂

[tomd2103]

There was one moment yesterday where someone, can't recall who, played a pass towards Torres that didn't have enough legs on it.

Not only did he sprint forward and get to it first, he played an inch-perfect first-time pass out to Diaby on the wing.

He's top drawer.

I thought he was our best player yesterday but he’s been brilliant for ages now. I don’t really think Ive seen a defender like him, his passing is just outrageously good.

Me too, he's become a real leader in the team as well, always talking and organising things. There are many central defenders that you look at and think that if need be he could become a top drawer box2box midfielder..

Tweeting about how special Villa Park is too. He's a good'un.

Mentioned this earlier, but that build up for the goal, looks like he's about to pass sideways to Martinez, then turns and effortlessly swats one over a couple of Arsenal players to Ollie instead. Just brilliant to watch, such a cultured player, his passing is superb.

There was a moment in the Man City game that was sheer class.  They broke down their left and put a cross into our box which was quite crowded.  Rather than just head it clear, he brought it down in his chest and played it into midfield. 

[Jon Crofts]

And I thought Spurs fans were whiney little girls, Christ this lot go on and on and on and on.

[SaddVillan]

This is from The Athletic and should shut the whingeing Tarquins up

EXPLAINED: WHY HANDBALL WAS GIVEN AGAINST KAI HAVERTZ AND NOT MATTY CASH DURING ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL

Aston Villa continued their flawless win streak at home on Saturday, achieving another major scalp as they defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League fixture.

Villa took an early lead when John McGinn finished a flowing move, however, the visitors thought they had levelled the scoreline late in the game through Kai Havertz — only for it to be ruled out for handball.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta — who was serving a touchline ban and has been charged by the FA for criticising officials earlier this season — said he “preferred not to comment” when asked about the situation after the match.

But why did the incident create confusion and what are the reasons for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upholding the on-field official Jarred Gillett’s handball decision? The Athletic explains a pivotal moment from the intriguing affair…

WHAT HAPPENED?

In the 89th minute, Havertz brought down a cross from Martin Odegaard in the Aston Villa penalty area. The ball pinballed between him and Villa defender Matty Cash, appearing to hit both players on their arms, before the Germany international stabbed a volley past goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

As Havertz began celebrating, he was immediately pulled back as Gillett had blown the whistle for a handball on the 24-year-old.

Replays showed that the ball struck Cash’s shoulder before ricocheting off Havertz’s right arm. And after a lengthy review, which lasted several minutes, the VAR confirmed Gillett’s decision.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Handball is a subjective law of the game and is the only one that uses the term “deliberate”, which leaves it up to the referee’s interpretation.

Law 12 of the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) ‘Rules of the Game’ outlines three scenarios in which a handball can be given.

The rules state, “It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised
• scores in the opponents’ goal:
directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.”

So, in summary, there are three ways it can be handball: 1) deliberate 2) by making your body bigger, and 3) if you are in the act of scoring a goal.

HOW WAS THE LAW APPLIED IN THIS CASE?

Due to Havertz and Cash’s proximity in the incident, and the speed at which the ball was moving, it is unlikely that either handball fulfilled the first criteria of being “deliberate”.

Secondly, neither player appeared to make their body “unnaturally bigger”. Cash had his right arm by his side and was falling when the ball hit his right shoulder. Similarly, Havertz’s body was swivelling as he attempted to control and make a connection with the ball when it ricocheted off Cash and struck the Arsenal midfielder’s arm.

However, because Havertz was in the act of scoring a goal his handling of the ball — even if accidental — was deemed an offence. As he wasn’t in the process of scoring a goal, Cash’s accidental handling of the ball was not.

[brontebilly]

This is from The Athletic and should shut the whingeing Tarquins up

EXPLAINED: WHY HANDBALL WAS GIVEN AGAINST KAI HAVERTZ AND NOT MATTY CASH DURING ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL

Aston Villa continued their flawless win streak at home on Saturday, achieving another major scalp as they defeated Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League fixture.

Villa took an early lead when John McGinn finished a flowing move, however, the visitors thought they had levelled the scoreline late in the game through Kai Havertz — only for it to be ruled out for handball.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta — who was serving a touchline ban and has been charged by the FA for criticising officials earlier this season — said he “preferred not to comment” when asked about the situation after the match.

But why did the incident create confusion and what are the reasons for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) upholding the on-field official Jarred Gillett’s handball decision? The Athletic explains a pivotal moment from the intriguing affair…

WHAT HAPPENED?

In the 89th minute, Havertz brought down a cross from Martin Odegaard in the Aston Villa penalty area. The ball pinballed between him and Villa defender Matty Cash, appearing to hit both players on their arms, before the Germany international stabbed a volley past goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

As Havertz began celebrating, he was immediately pulled back as Gillett had blown the whistle for a handball on the 24-year-old.

Replays showed that the ball struck Cash’s shoulder before ricocheting off Havertz’s right arm. And after a lengthy review, which lasted several minutes, the VAR confirmed Gillett’s decision.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Handball is a subjective law of the game and is the only one that uses the term “deliberate”, which leaves it up to the referee’s interpretation.

Law 12 of the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) ‘Rules of the Game’ outlines three scenarios in which a handball can be given.

The rules state, “It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised
• scores in the opponents’ goal:
directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.”

So, in summary, there are three ways it can be handball: 1) deliberate 2) by making your body bigger, and 3) if you are in the act of scoring a goal.

HOW WAS THE LAW APPLIED IN THIS CASE?

Due to Havertz and Cash’s proximity in the incident, and the speed at which the ball was moving, it is unlikely that either handball fulfilled the first criteria of being “deliberate”.

Secondly, neither player appeared to make their body “unnaturally bigger”. Cash had his right arm by his side and was falling when the ball hit his right shoulder. Similarly, Havertz’s body was swivelling as he attempted to control and make a connection with the ball when it ricocheted off Cash and struck the Arsenal midfielder’s arm.

However, because Havertz was in the act of scoring a goal his handling of the ball — even if accidental — was deemed an offence. As he wasn’t in the process of scoring a goal, Cash’s accidental handling of the ball was not.

It's a nonsense rule, mind (in the act of scoring a goal) if it's in the act of laying on a tap in then it's fine? That Bournemouth forward was robbed of a goal at the weekend by the same rule.

Between Cash and particularly Martinez that cross should have been dealt with a lot better. Fortunate to get away with it. It was at a time when Arsenal had ran out of ideas so would have been sickening to drop two points in the circumstances.

[Somniloquism]

However, because Havertz was in the act of scoring a goal his handling of the ball — even if accidental — was deemed an offence. As he wasn’t in the process of scoring a goal, Cash’s accidental handling of the ball was not.

Although shouldn't the Athletic have led with "the shoulder is not part of the body that is used for handball shouts but the arm is, so the only person who committed handball was Havertz"?.

[LeonW]

Wednesday has to be taken into consideration when looking at our performance Saturday. The players looked gassed very early and you can’t blame them at all. But they dug deep and more importantly, followed the plan the manager set out. In a way, it was a more impressive performance because we beat those moaning tw*ts without playing particularly well. That is the big takeaway for me and it’s the reason why we’re legitimate  title contenders.

[ChicagoLion]

It’s too early to say we are legitimate title contenders.
We are still a couple of players and months away from that.

[LeonW]

It’s too early to say we are legitimate title contenders.
We are still a couple of players and months away from that.

Not for me. We’re contenders.

[PeterWithesShin]

We're title contenders. Whether we stay as one is another matter.