Match Report


Aston VillaAston Villa     ArsenalArsenal
Luke KerrLuke Kerr John Miller John Miller
Carl LinekerC. Lineker82
G
1
G
54Darius GriffinD. Griffin
Miguel PonceM. Ponce88
D
2
D
71Gaetano AlessiG. Alessi
Olivier BattlesO. Battles85
D
3
D
76Terry McleodT. Mcleod
Gionatha TattiG. Tatti85
D
4
D
73Miguel SanzM. Sanz
Dietmar KuzorraD. Kuzorra84
D
5
D
68Martin VickersM. Vickers
Alan UnsworthA. Unsworth106
M
6
M
77Martin PlattM. Platt
Felipe AzevedoF. Azevedo98
M
captain7captain
M
49Neil MikeN. Mike
Ronald MatthijsR. Matthijs88
A
8
M
63Darren EdworthyD. Edworthy
Hayder GamezH. Gamez85
A
9
A
71Dave Wright-PhillipsD. Wright-Phillips
Thanassis KamarasT. Kamaras89
A
10
A
74Des BestD. Best
Mick KeeganM. Keegan81
A
11
A
79Manuel FonsecaM. Fonseca
 
Chritophe GravelaineC. Gravelaine84
M
12
D
48Mark JackM. Jack
Andres SotoA. Soto86
M
13
M
49Sol HackworthS. Hackworth
Mehamha ZeraraM. Zerara81
D
14
A
71David Van HimstD. Van Himst

Graphic Ace
today's match is sponsored by Graphic Ace
Match Report
There are a few clouds overhead here at Villa Park where Aston Villa play host to Arsenal. A crowd of 15,557 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Aston Villa are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while Arsenal appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Tommy Winterburn.


0.00
The whistle blows and Aston Villa get the match underway!
2.45
Felipe Azevedo flicks a high pass forward. Alan Unsworth holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Alan Unsworth advances inside the box! Some world-class footwork from Alan Unsworth provides some space. He stabs the ball goalward but Darius Griffin is on top of his game. Nice save!
3.07
Martin Vickers clumsily knocks into Alan Unsworth. The referee warns Martin Vickers to calm down! Alan Unsworth carries on, but is struggling a bit.
6.06
Miguel Ponce flicks the ball to his team mate, Gionatha Tatti. Gionatha Tatti threads a neat ball through to Mick Keegan. Mick Keegan knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Gaetano Alessi.
8.18
Olivier Battles flicks a high pass forward. Felipe Azevedo controls it well on his chest. Felipe Azevedo flicks a high pass forward. Thanassis Kamaras controls it well on his chest. Thanassis Kamaras makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Hayder Gamez but he's offside!
12.50
Ronald Matthijs advances with the ball. Ronald Matthijs plays a quick one-two with Felipe Azevedo and rushes in on goal... Some silky footwork from Ronald Matthijs provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but it is deflected wide by Gaetano Alessi.
14.41
Felipe Azevedo takes the corner, chipping the ball into the box. Some silky footwork from Mick Keegan provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but it whistles just wide of the post!
16.30
Neil Mike makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Des Best. Des Best tries a spectacular long range effort but it's a lousy effort!
18.33
Miguel Sanz makes an attacking run forward. Miguel Sanz plays a scrappy one-two with Darren Edworthy and stumbles forward towards the goal... Miguel Sanz shows great control and tries a shot on goal but Carl Lineker is on top of it.
20.12
Manuel Fonseca hacks Gionatha Tatti from behind! The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Gionatha Tatti stretches but gets up unharmed.
21.54
Felipe Azevedo makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Hayder Gamez. Hayder Gamez knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Mick Keegan is offside!
22.49
Martin Vickers sees space and advances. Martin Vickers shoots from long range but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
24.35
Ronald Matthijs flicks a high pass forward to Hayder Gamez who brings the ball under control. Hayder Gamez shoots from long range. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
26.14
Darren Edworthy controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Martin Platt. Martin Platt finds some space and shoots from distance but is denied by Carl Lineker. Excellent save.
27.09
Alan Unsworth hits a low pass to Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo shoots from long range but it flies just off target!
28.06
Felipe Azevedo flicks a high ball forward to Alan Unsworth who takes it down. Alan Unsworth shoots from 20 yards but it is miles over!
33.32
Darren Edworthy catches Alan Unsworth on the ankles. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Alan Unsworth runs off the knock.
40.05
Gaetano Alessi runs straight at the opposition's defence. Gaetano Alessi finds some space and shoots from distance but somehow Carl Lineker manages to keep it out.
42.52
Mick Keegan kicks a strong pass forward to Ronald Matthijs. Ronald Matthijs lofts in a cross ball towards Thanassis Kamaras. Thanassis Kamaras directs the ball goalwards with his head but Gaetano Alessi is between the ball and the goal. Well blocked!
44.10
Dietmar Kuzorra flicks the ball to his team mate, Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo knocks the ball forward to Ronald Matthijs. Ronald Matthijs shoots from outside the area. Magnificent save by Darius Griffin!
45.00
The whistle indicates the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Aston Villa appear unchanged since the first half. Arsenal also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
Arsenal kick off!
47.39
Darren Edworthy flicks the ball to his team mate, Dave Wright-Phillips. Dave Wright-Phillips knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Gionatha Tatti.
49.51
Felipe Azevedo chips the ball to his team mate, Hayder Gamez. Hayder Gamez knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
51.36
Hayder Gamez deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Ronald Matthijs. Ronald Matthijs knocks in a cross ball towards Thanassis Kamaras. Thanassis Kamaras shows true skill creating a chance out of nothing and knocks the ball goalwards with his head. The ball takes a deflection leaving Darius Griffin with no chance!! Goal for Aston Villa!
55.03
Miguel Ponce threads the ball through to Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Ronald Matthijs. Ronald Matthijs plays a scrappy one-two with Mick Keegan and stumbles forward towards the goal... Ronald Matthijs makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Ronald Matthijs!
60.53
Arsenal have made a substitution with Sol Hackworth replacing Martin Platt .
61.54
Alan Unsworth threads the ball through to Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo edges inside the box! Some silky footwork from Felipe Azevedo provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. The ball curls but is blocked by Sol Hackworth's leg.
65.19
Dietmar Kuzorra takes it forward alone. Dietmar Kuzorra makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Alan Unsworth. Alan Unsworth tries a spectacular long range effort. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is more than a match for it. Nice keeping!
66.19
Felipe Azevedo threads a neat ball through to Alan Unsworth. Alan Unsworth finds some space and shoots from distance. It's there!! Darius Griffin has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
71.24
Terry Mcleod decides to run forward with the ball. Terry Mcleod kicks a strong pass forward to Des Best. Des Best shoots from 20 yards but it is shockingly off target!
77.35
Arsenal have made 2 substitutions with David Van Himst replacing Des Best and Mark Jack replacing Martin Vickers .
78.40
Olivier Battles hits a low pass to Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Alan Unsworth. Alan Unsworth knocks in a cross ball towards Felipe Azevedo. Felipe Azevedo makes a convincing header but it is tipped over by Darius Griffin.
79.40
It's a corner kick. Felipe Azevedo loops the ball over to the far post. David Van Himst reaches the ball and hoofs it clear.
83.24
Neil Mike sees Manuel Fonseca in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Manuel Fonseca makes a beautiful attacking pass to the feet of Darren Edworthy. Some silky footwork from Darren Edworthy provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. Magnificent save by Carl Lineker!
85.09
Olivier Battles deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Alan Unsworth. Alan Unsworth hits a low pass to Mick Keegan. Mick Keegan edges inside the box! Some good footwork from Mick Keegan provides some space. He shoots at goal but it is shockingly off target!
87.28
Seeing a gap ahead, Felipe Azevedo plays the ball forward to Ronald Matthijs. Ronald Matthijs plays a scrappy one-two with Hayder Gamez and stumbles forward towards the goal... Ronald Matthijs takes a shot at goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Aston Villa!
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!

Match Statistics
 

Aston Villa

Arsenal
Goals
4
0
Shots on Target
11
4
Shots off Target
5
3
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
0
3
Yellow Cards
0
2
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
69.2%
30.8%
Play Area
23.1%
46.2%
30.8%

Scorers
Thanassis Kamaras 51
Ronald Matthijs 55, 87
Alan Unsworth 66

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Ronald Matthijs of Aston Villa

Match Ratings
1.Carl Lineker (GK)
7
2.Miguel Ponce (DEF)
6
3.Olivier Battles (DEF)
6
4.Gionatha Tatti (DEF)
6
5.Dietmar Kuzorra (DEF)
6
6.Alan Unsworth (MID)goal scored
8
7.Felipe Azevedo (MID)
8
8.Ronald Matthijs (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
9.Hayder Gamez (ATT)
6
10.Thanassis Kamaras (ATT)goal scored
7
11.Mick Keegan (ATT)
6
 
12.Chritophe Gravelaine (MID)
0
13.Andres Soto (MID)
0
14.Mehamha Zerara (DEF)
0

1.Darius Griffin (GK)
7
2.Gaetano Alessi (DEF)
6
3.Terry Mcleod (DEF)
6
4.Miguel Sanz (DEF)
6
5.Martin Vickers (DEF)
6
6.Martin Platt (MID)
6
7.Neil Mike (MID)
6
8.Darren Edworthy (MID)yellow card
6
9.Dave Wright-Phillips (ATT)
6
10.Des Best (ATT)
6
11.Manuel Fonseca (ATT)yellow card
5
 
12.Mark Jack (DEF)
6
13.Sol Hackworth (MID)
6
14.David Van Himst (ATT)
6