Villa’s 3-1 win against Arsenal today was as good a start to the season as any of us could have hoped for. More important, arguably, than the three points was the manner of the victory.
Villa’s start was a deceptive 4-3-3 that pundits suspected was a defensive set up aimed at stifling Arsenal’s attacking talent. However, with a trio of Weimann, Agbonlahor and Benteke up front, the passing range of Westwood and KEA and the tireless running of full-backs Lowton and Luna, Villa posed more of a threat than Arsenal could have been expecting.
Indeed, Lambert could have been forgiven for setting up ultra-defensively and playing for the draw. The manner of Villa’s victory not only highlighted the talent the team has going forward but the resilience of the defensive players.
As recently as last season, conceding a goal away to a top five team, even a top ten team, would have had Villa fans cowering behind their sofas or pints fearing the worst. Today, Lambert’s team showed steel and real character to not only draw level but to pull ahead and ultimately win comfortably at the Emirates.
The referee’s performance aside, Villa were threatening the Arsenal goal even before the awarding of two penalties, the second was harsh, and the sending off of Koscielny. His first yellow was awarded for the supposed foul which led to the second penalty, a decision that might have gone either way. The second was for a late challenge on Weimann as he skipped past. Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly feel hard done by.
The London crowd quickly turned on the Frenchman who has spend the summer watching transfer targets slip through his fingers. Lambert must have recognised the volatility of the situation and pushed his young team to get stuck into the Gunners and really get the crowd on their team’s back.
It would be shockingly premature to suggest that Villa will be able to keep this form up throughout the season, the situation at Arsenal is unique and they won’t come up against a team with such disgruntled fans every week. Chelsea on Wednesday will be a much stronger test for the young Villa team.
That said, Villa’s approach is certainly a statement of intent from Lambert. He knows how to set his side up and really have a go at supposedly bigger teams. Far from the finished package but it’s a much stronger team than last season with improvements in key areas and promising young players improving all the time.
UTV!
