Pre-match:
So, here we are: upon the precipice, ready to throw our hearts and wallets at another Premier League season, following the famous Birmingham Lions of Aston Villa wherever they might go. Pre-season debate, prediction calculators, rosary beads and crystal balls are all put away. We pull on our claret and blue skins and prepare to do battle. ‘Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war,’ as Shakespeare might say, or as I prefer, ‘C’mon you Villa Boys,’ screamed out from the lungs. Take you pick. Either way, the talking is finally over.
The Mrs and I are very pumped up. Blood is in the Arsenal water: A stack of injuries, plastic legs and a general lack of spine will give us more than a fighting chance on a wet pitch. We play a fast, energetic ball, run ourselves ragged when not in possession, recycling play into quick, dizzying counter-attacks, spearheaded by the beast that is Benteke. This doesn’t seem to be of concern to anyone at Arsenal though. Indeed, some at the Emirates seem to be of the belief that they might very well turn up today and find that Wenger’s vision has finally lead to something approaching Barcelona; that we are nothing but a work out for a title challenge in the making. They are obviously putting something in the pies.
With Sylla carrying an ankle knock, eyebrows are raised when El Ahmadi (El Ak-mad-ee) is drafted in along side Westwood and Fabian ‘Fabio’ Delph. Lowton, Baker, Vlaar and Luna fill out the back row whilst Agbonlahor and Weimann look set to swarm off spearhead Benteke. Game on.
Match:
Referee Anthony Taylor sends us on our way. The first few minutes are nervy. Arsenal press and the ball pings around. The home side get a break and come down our right side. Vlaar takes himself out of position, drifts over to intercept but misjudges his tackle, allowing Oxlade-Chamberlain to slalom toward the box. He capitalises sending a teasing drive across the six yard box for Giroud, who finds himself in the space vacated by Vlaar. The French marksman adroitly slips it past Guzan. A defensive howler and we are just five minutes in. Thanks Vlaar. 1-0 Arsenal.
Despite the early goal, I am not unduly worried. This is a mentally tough Villa side that work hard and play fast on the break. And so it is. Arsenal are to busy imagining headlines when Gabby Agbonlahor accelerates through the middle, touches it past the last defender only to be brought down by a flapping Szczesny. Referee Taylor points to the spot then shows the polish shot stopper a deserved yellow. Benteke steps up. It’s a poor penalty but he’s big on the re-bound, heading the ball down into the net. On 22 minutes its a goal a piece. 1-1.
Arsenal seem thrown. Challenges are now going in and Referee Taylor is giving out cards like its Christmas. Vlaar sticks his body in the way and Wilshere goes crashing to the ground; then Kieran Gibbs gets a deep cut and a bloody eye when his faces meets the back of Weimann’s head. He is in a bad way and is replaced by Jenkinson on 28′.
Frustration is boiling over as Delph and El Ahmadi are refusing to give Wilshere et al space. They are plugging up holes and nipping at the Arsenal ankle, winning those second balls. They’re also keeping the ball moving, creating triangles and counter balls for Agbonlahor’s pace. Referee Taylor blows up for half-time and we head off for drinks and a loo break. I’m convinced we’ll nick this one. Well done Villa.
We are one minute into the second-half when Tony Moon goes all in for a hospital ball. He collects but collides on the turf with Oxlade-Chamberlain. The latter puts a leg through his balls and both knees into his sternum for good measure. Ouch. I look away. Tony Moon needs a squeeze of the magic sponge and a few deep breaths after that. He then gets up and is promptly given a yellow. I am incredulous. Oxlade-Chamberlain is too crock to continue and is taken off.Santi Cazorla comes on in his place on 46′ minutes. Good little player.
He gives Arsenal some impetus. Giroud has a chance but can only blaze over and Rosicky, after more slick interplay, has a golden chance to put Arsenal ahead but he pus the ball into a deep space orbit as well.
In pressing for the lead Arsenal leave themselves exposed at the back. Delph, who is putting in a proper shift, maximises when he careers forward with an agile drive, fashioning an 18 yard strike. It hits the post, rolls along the line, then out. Sterling stuff from Fabian Delph. The boy is finally coming good.
Agbonlahor is then played through, picks up the ball and edges past Koscielny, who brings him down. The linesman flags and referee Taylor points to the spot again. It looks like Koscielny touched the ball but the tackle is clearly from behind which is a no-no. The Arsenal defender looks toward the referee in amazement. I am not sure why though I am too busy jumping around and screaming to really care. Benteke does not mess about with this one. He bangs it past Szczesny for Villa’s second. On 61′ minutes its 1-2 Villa.
I do wonder how many outings it will take for Arsenal to improve their psychological approach to matches. Out of their stride, closed down and muscled off the ball too often, they start to make silly fouls, losing their composure. Dummies are getting spat out, hands are on hips and mouths are vomiting out unkind words. Its all so unfair. Koscielny epitomises this when he sticks a scything leg out for the industrious Weimann. Referee Taylor can do no more than show him a deserved second yellow and automatic red. Goodbye son and thanks for coming. Next time pack some brains with your boots.
Despite the cosmic sense of injustice Arsenal are too good not to create chances. Rosicky creates another chance for himself though Guzan is down low to smother. The Giant handed Yank rescues Villa a second time when he tips Santi Cazorla’s effort onto the bar. Both are top drawer saves worthy of the highlights reel. Arsenal are now desperate to get something out of this rain soaked affair and in pushing for it they fall right into our trap.
Tony Moon breaks beautifully from the half-way line. The pitch opens up before him like an ocean. Will he shoot or try and find Benteke…. The Spaniard places a lovely finish to the right of Szczesny. Do not adjust your sets. 1-3 Villa on 85′ minutes. We erupt into delirium. Arsene Wenger looks like all his dreams have just died and without his sleeping bag to hide in he can only look on, dumbfounded. I may very well pass out.
Referee Taylor sets of a B6 roar when he blows up for full time. A cacophony of boos hit the pitch. ‘Awful, Awful Arsenal,’ they cry. It looks like one dour Frenchman might have to spend a shed load of money after all. Full time 1-3 Villa.
Post-match:
A gruelling pre-season has its benefits. 9 games and 6 weeks of hell at Bodymoor Heath and we now have one of the fittest teams in the league. Lambert calls it high-energy football, and no one exemplified that more today than the mid-filed duo of Delph and El-Ahmadi. Both played box to box; some nice quick balls with it too, allowing us to recycle and move from front to back, whilst closing down quickly. I am in awe of their fitness and work rate. The Mrs and I had previously rubbished El Ahmadi and were surprised he was selected. We take it all back Karim. An all action display (though just shaded by Delph for man of the match.) I’m pinching myself. We have taken 3 points on opening day, away at Arsenal. Great start though I’m not getting carried away. Next up, Stamford Bridge.
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