Match reaction vs Villa (fa cup)

[Grebbo]

Great second half.

Wenger really, really needed that.

[Niall_Quinn]

yep mate was at the game and confirmed it and loads of people talking about it elsewhere.

Counterproductive, they're shooting themselves in the arse. Meanwhile Arshavin will still draw a pay cheque but his chances of earning it will be even lower if he feels the game is already over. He's almost certainly gone in the summer. No need to make it acrimonious.

[Cripps_orig]

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has encouraged the FA to investigate an incident involving Arsenal striker Robin van Persie during the FA Cup fourth round clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsene Wenger's side came from two down to win 3-2 on Sunday evening, thanks to a penalty brace from the Dutch international and a fortunate Theo Walcott goal.

In a controversial incident in the second-half, the Scot believed Carlos Cuellar was caught in the face by Van Persie's elbow, but the referee Michael Jones did not award a foul.

He told reporters: "I thought it was a clear elbow, but the referee did not seem to think there was anything in it.

"I thought he put the elbow towards Carlos' face. The big man is not a guy to lie down; he got up pretty quickly."

McLeish suggested the FA should look at the alleged elbow, adding: "Yes, if it was an elbow in the face - look at my face and my nose is a result of elbows all my career. It is something which is dangerous.

"I never mentioned it to the referee. I saw it in real time.

"I don't like to point the finger at players, but it has happened to mine enough times."

Villa ended the first-half with a shock lead, courtesy of goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent, before two Van Persie and Walcott swayed the game back in the hosts' favour.

The 53-year old thought his men had done enough to secure victory in the first period alone, and was understandably disheartened by their failure to hold on to the victory.

"I am very disappointed we did not see it out and it is a missed opportunity," he said.

"The fans will be gutted at seeing us let that lead slip away.

"I said to the lads at half-time that I would like to be congratulating them at full-time, because it was an international performance in the first half.

"The penalty gave them a huge lift, and we looked a bit leggy, but we went right to the end and could even have had an equaliser with a late couple of chances, but it was not to be.

"We have to learn from this and try to obtain that winning mentality."

The loss means that Villa miss out on a fifth round spot, with the Gunners facing an away trip to the winner of Sunderland and Middlesbrough's replay.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2900/...stigate-clear-

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2900/...stigate-clear-

When he says he doesn't like to point the finger, I guess it means he really loves to point the finger. He can't even be honest with himself, the poor cunt. Hopefully this incident will be treated in the same way the b,atant Rooney dive was treated, laughed off and brushed under the carpet. If Robin really did elbow him, well good. Another great shot from RvP and fuck off MacLeish you whining cunt. Nothing to say about Dunne? Or some of the wild challenges put in on Ramsey? FFS Alex, it's Arsenal. We don't like it up us, do we mate? Don't tell me your lot were beaten up by the girls at Arsenal. Something better kept quiet rather than crowed.

[tigerthesmurf85]

Is it just me or was the elbow really nothing?

[Niall_Quinn]

Is it just me or was the elbow really nothing?

That wouldn't have any bearing on a good old press lynching.

[Fats]

So fucked off to hear so many people say we should not have been losing first half because it was all us.

Totally correct of course when you look at posession stats. Totally incorrect of course that that means anything in a game where goals hold the result.

Wake up ffs

We were lucky today, bloody lucky and that about sums it up. Still the same problems not being addressed. We still will not win anything under this manager, he simply makes too many errors tactically.

[GP]

We deserved to win and we did. Nothing lucky about that.

[tigerthesmurf85]

That wouldn't have any bearing on a good old press lynching.

Yeah I know. The commentators were saying how he was lucky to be on the pitch but I honestly thought it was nothing

[Ollie the Optimist]

Yeah I know. The commentators were saying how he was lucky to be on the pitch but I honestly thought it was nothing

funny how rvp was lucky to be on the pitch but no mention of dunne