From Rhys Jaggar :
1. Walcott had 4 clear-cut chances: scored one well, Given and Richardson blocked two brilliantly (some/many will say he should have buried both – I prefer to credit the opponents) and then, just before being subsituted, he missed badly one on one from the edge of the box. His pace caused all kinds of problems.
2. Ozil played at 110% for 70 minutes and was substituted already knackered. The game was over, he had done his job, so let others get on the pitch.
3. Arsenal’s defence double teamed on Grealish (a compliment to the young man) and he couldn’t deal with it.
4. Benteke was absolute pants. Support for him was minimal, but he played like a man sulking over his relationship with his manager. Why, after 12 in 12 to the end of the season?
I have to say I agreed with Sherwood about ‘the time to move is after Euro 2016 if he has to go’ – he will start every week for Villa and so Belgium will benefit from that. If he does well, he can get a big move next summer. But footballers these days care only about number one, a rather strange attitude to have for players of team sports. Perhaps Wenger will put in a cheeky bid of £32.501m?? But I tend to think that all that is paper gossip, not serious intent.
5. Mertesacker was faultless but wasn’t tested in any way whatsoever. He beasted Benteke in the air when defending and everyone beasted Benteke when Arsenal had corners. Koscielny could and should have scored twice in the first half with free headers.
6. As for N’Zogbia vs Agbonlahor, I think Sherwood was loyal to the team that won him the semi-final.
But he should have changed things at half-time, not waited until the second goal was scored. His tactics had failed and he should have changed decisively at half-time. That’s life.
7. Arsenal as a team played as if they were playing for their futures.
Apparently, several Villa players had already been told they had no futures. I guess Sherwood was in a no-win situation: he had taken the decisions privately and do you tell people beforehand or crush them after they play brilliantly in a Cup Final, it having made no difference to your decision??
All the talk afterwards was of ‘challenging for the title next year’.
I hope all the players, coaching staff, management team and Board members understand what it takes to do that in reality.We will find out in the next three months whether they do or not.
Myles says:
Pros often do just enough. Arsenal slackened off when they achieved third.
I usually ignore what footballers say. The truth is not in the newspapers.
The action, the goals and missed chances, and the body language, tell me all I need to know.
As Vieira says, the truth is on the pitch.
From Anthony Leon:
Myles says:
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