Thread by @lmechegaray

1/ Alright, #AVFC 🟣🔵 fam. I’ve calmed down (and doing a hit on ESPN right after the game was not easy, let me tell you 😭) Here are my thoughts. They’re basically echoing Emery’s presser but I’ll give my own added notes. On the game itself, I thought it was the perfect example

2/ of how far we have come since UE arrived and how much more work we need to do. Positives are simple really. The two goals showed us that. There is a great sense of momentum when we have the ball and it’s showing. The second goal especially.

Individually: Watkins, Coutinho,

3/ McGinn, Moreno (as the game developed), Kamara and Durán (once again, I mean this boy has to start soon) demonstrated quality going forward. Bailey remains that potent piece of dynamite. He just has to be more disciplined.

But scoring two goals and keeping it 2-2 until

4/…stoppage time against a team that leads the PL table is commendable. The product is there.

Ok. Now. The annoying part. As UE stated, we can’t be this passive - both in mentality and physically - sometimes. There was a lot of carelessness today and it frustrates

5/…the hell out of our manager - and us - cause this issue is really mental. We have to be more imposing. More clinical. This passiveness affects our defensive game. 11 goals in 3 matches is not good. Pure and simple. The good news is that we know the team is better than this.

6/ Ultimately, until he can fully get to work this summer, UE’s biggest task is to translate the good work during the week and put it on the pitch. He needs to give them a sense of consistent confidence.

When Durán urged Villa fans inside the stadium today? That’s what we need.

7/ We need that fighting spirit mixed with consistency. Plenty of points to be earned in the next few weeks and overall, I feel the project is there. Emery knows it. The players know it. It’s time to apply.

UTV 🟣🔵

8/ Oh, also. Jorginho’s shot? That ricocheted off of Dibu? That’s just pure bad fortune. He dove for it the right way + did everything right. It’s just one of those things.

*whispers*

There was also obstruction but whatever. Gunners, overall, deserved the W.

ONWARDS 🟣🔵

9/ This is what I mean when I say how far we’ve come since Unai Emery and his absolute need - even when it’s not working, even when it’s a mess - to play from the back + be confident in movement. Coutinho’s goal was a perfect example of who we can become