By Boris Mellor
March 15 2007

What come around goes around, in the very first Premiership game at the Grove Villa scored from their only shot; and looked like pissing on Arsenal’s parade until the 83 rd minute when Gilberto equalised.

 O’Neil really fancied this one, after all they finished 1-1 at the Grove, and he had read all the hoo ha about battered Arsenal scoring blanks (Something that Villa fire most of the time). But surely Arsenal who had gone out of 15 competitions in three days, or was it three in 15 days, were a busted flush. How do you go out of a cup when you are in a final? Is there another round in a hidden universe for winners? But I digress, O’Neil fancied his chances and he put out in advance the honeyed words that Arsenal are a great side. That’s manager code for you lot are crap without Henry and Adebayor, and are ready for the taking.

Arsenal were without, Toure, Adebayor, Eboue, Clichy, Hleb, Henry and RvP, and Villa were playing for only the second time in a month, the third time since the beginning of February, in the same time the Arsenal have had nine first-team games. Come on, even Villa had to have a chance, and O’Neil is no fool and he knows how to defend. No doubt one or two journalists and even Arsenal fanzines, were sharpening their pencils to have a go at Wenger for making excuses if his side failed at Villa. After all the season is over and a Villa victory would be just perfect for a good story.

Meanwhile as  Arsenal struggled to beat Villa Chelsea played scintillating football to win 1-0 at City (You're  having a larf. Ed.) Of course the fact that Arsenal only won I-0 means that those tired of writing about football can write about how Arsenal over elaborate rather than score, although I couldn’t see anything elaborate about Ali’s point blank header miss, or the other half dozen or so misses from Ali, Fab and Rosicky, just poor finishing.  Others will point out that Baptista is not Henry, nonetheless his hopeful shot found the goal due to a Diaby deflection.

Perhaps it was Villa that over elaborated? Lehmann only had a couple real saves all night, the rest of his game was as fifth man in the back four. True Gilberto found it tough, but it’s a team game and in the end the defence stood up well; and Villa were restricted, for most of the time, to long range shots. The few times Villa got in close everything was blocked. The kind of defending teams often employ at the Grove, and makes you ask why can’t we do that?

This was a team effort, and rather than pick on the faults of individuals it should be recognised this was an act of great mental strength, that got a big, big, big three points. Arsenal still had far more shots than Villa had at the Grove, but they tired in the second half. Unable to put the chances home they held on to what they had.

This could be the foundation for a real assault on second place, two points clear of Liverpool, with a game in hand, and they could also control six points over Chelsea. Win the game in hand, beat Chelsea, and hope that Man U win at the Bridge. It could be as dramatic as lasagnegate.

OK it’s a long shot, but soon players will be returning, Toure, Clichy and Eboue can return for Everton. Adebayor returns for Liverpool, maybe RvP could be back in April, there are still a lot of opportunities for this team. It won’t be easy, but most things worth having don’t come easy – that could be what our youngsters need to learn to close the 5% gap between where they are now and achieving greatness in the near future.

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