Finally someone gives some credit to Unai Emery. Simon Jordan even the other day said that Villa will not put any dents in Arsenal's title hopes so he'd better give him credit.

It's only Arsenal who get accused of bottling it and the hilarious thing is, in my experience the main culprits using the bottlers allegation are Chelsea and Tottenham fans who are in absolutely no position to point the finger at anyone.

Give some bloody credit to Villa and Palace, didnt see either side playing for a point away from home!

Watkins and Tielemans shots were less than an inch from making this an absolute hammering, so yes Jeff it could have been a very different day indeed.

Lost 1 game out of 14 and thats bottling it these days? Football fans have lost their heads

I agree! If only saliba wasn't injured they would hav.... oh, wait!

Emery celebrating the goals, lol.

Nobody bottles it like north london

As a Villa fan of 45 years, that was one of the best away performances Ive ever seen. They were superb, 2nd half Arsenal did not get a meaningful kick of the ball. A masterclass in management by Unai Emery.

As a Arsenal fan I knew this would happen, that's why I never had any expectations and was realistic with what I was seeing. Sure the team progressed but the team I no where capable to take the next step. A solid second or third finish was my original prediction so which ever spot so be it. Prepare for next seas9n and go again.

No mention of Liverpool Bottling it then 🤡🤡

Villa are a top side, it's not bottling it to lose against them

It amazes me when people say bottlers. Liverpool Arsenal and city don’t bottle anything it’s the premier league every team can beat anyone on their day simple as that.

I knew this day will come.. No Saliba excuse now😂😂

Why is everyone so obsessed with calling others bottle jobs nowadays. This never used to be a thing in the past. The modern social media driven fanbases and media are pathetic.

As a Villa fan, they bottled it. We played well, but if you're in touching distance of the title at home, vs a team who arent title contenders, who played on Thursday night, you bottled it.

We "bottle" it because of the context of the game and the time in the season. It's all great pumping teams when there is no jepordy but as soon as Arsenal comes under real actual pressure then we fold. We've been doing it for the past 3 seasons. Ruthless when it doesn't matter, toothless when it does matter. Massive credit to Arteta for transforming our club and getting us back to title challenging status, but he needs to sort out performances in the business end of seasons. 3 years on the trot we've folded when crunch time has come. For me, he has 1 season left

Well done unai you deserve that. Outstanding performance

Getting a little bit Arsey

Don’t know how people can say Arsenal or Liverpool have bottled it. Man City are the better team, and just keep getting results. They haven’t lost in any competition since December 6th ffs, 27 games!

Poor Sterling doesn't know what day it is because he's clearly gone senile ... and I don't even support or like Arsenal 🤣🤣🤣

I prefer choke to bottle. They really do make a habit of it

Arsenal and Liverpool are still in the race. The issue is the opponent they up against. City by their own standards have not been as great following a treble season but they so hard to topple. If they win the treble again one has to say likely greatest side ever.

This season is far from over

Emery is a tactical old fox 😂

Bottling is lazy journalism Or banter from beer bellied fans who can’t kick a ball to save their lives. Thank you Arsenal and Liverpool for keeping interesting, no one else is getting close. 19 bottlers and man city?? 🤦🏽‍♂️

Give these arsenal team 👍 they've been xlent all season weather they win it or not .lfc

That “North London Forever” song is so gay 😂

As Sir Alex always called this "squeaky bum time" massive games in EUROPE and the league come thick and fast, there still will be more twists and turns, this is where the squad depth comes into play. Regarding Ange ball, decent coaches have found the key to beat it, simple as that Ange, stop being stubborn !

Agbonlahor, a has been who never was.

No chance city are going to be stopped now when you have managers like emery throwing in the towel against city other week he gave up that game

At the end of the day, there's five games left and two points between the top three. It's not over yet City and arsenal both have massive games this week and while city have the best run in of fixtures, there will be twists and turns However, I hate this term bottlejobs. Arsenal have been a joy to watch all season, and losing to Aston villa, who are fourth by the way, isn't a huge shock imo Liverpool have been missing far too many chances and this was always going to happen. When they lost on Thursday alarm bells started ringing City have the experience, the knowledge and they are favourite to win but it certainly isn't over

Unai only speaks Ball.

Arsenal went woke, banging on about diversity, equity and inclusion instead of playing football lol

Well done Jeff for telling it how it was "Erik did NOT storm out of the press conference". 👍🏼

Could not of put it better myself @ Gabby.

Yes they Jeff

Look at them all happy as larry that Arsenal lost . The agenda is real

Every loss is a “bottle job” these days, football fans genuinely don’t have anything better to say, everything is just reactionary. This Arsenal team haven’t bottled it, it was just a bad day at the office, Emerys in game management was top tier and they have to learn from this. Great win for Villa, unbeaten in London in 10 GAMES!

Some teams don't even get the chance to bottle it because most teams don't have a chance to

All the ills of today's performance can be laid at the feet of Arteta's selections and substitutions. They were unfortunately emotional and arrogant. He believed that his coaching could override the natural dispositions of players. It was a pre-Dubai team selection with pre-Dubai results (plenty opportunities but an inability to score). As a fanbase we've been very superstitious about what happened in Dubai and how it transformed us. And of course we dont know all the secret sauce tactical, cultural, and psychological interventions used- but it is clear that one major visible transformative pivot was positional- Havertz as the centre forward, the 4 part midfield with Jorghino as base, etc. It is telling that the first game that we reverted to the pre-Dubai shape we got a pre-Dubai performance and result. Cause and effect. Let's learn that lesson quickly! Our flaws against Villa were entirely positional. And those affected individual performance. Im stating the obvious: Havertz should have started as centre forwatd not midfield. Jesus should have come on as a second-half sub- and then to replace Saka. Martinelli needed to start because this match was supposed to be a match for sprinters. Trossard should come on in his best role as high-impact substitute. Jorghino needed to start in the midfield and he and Rice could have alternated roles- on top or sitting deep- during the game according to the workload and to confuse Villa. Tomiyasu should have started over Zinchenko for defensive solidity. We all know what has worked in 2024! By messing with the line-up Arteta messed with the team's flow, and we are at a part of the season when flow is supreme, when muscle memory can serve you well to get over the exhaustion and injury line when you're knackered. Players should get rest by playing only 45- 65 minutes- not by sitting on the bench during their most productive period. A post-Dubai team selection puts away those chances we were presented.. Arteta's unnecessary tinkering derailed the campaign last year pre-City, and he needs to learn the lesson quickly that Frankenstein monsters dont work for title charges!. Let the team be the beautiful Monster that it originally was post-Dubai. Now is not the time to tinker and second guess. Play People in their natural positions!!! There's nothing as tiring as having to act against type- and the team today simply suffered from being miscast... Look, I love Arteta, but today he just got it horribly wrong. The other issue is that it is time we formally designate Unai and Villa at home as bogeys. The reason why this is important is that Arteta and this Arsenal have overcome every single bogey systematically. Lets officially put Unai and Villla on the bogey-destruction whiteboard and execute. Next to Bayern... We can still win everything by beating every team in front of us (and praying that City slip up at least once!)- the Super post-Dubai Team can do that with a cleverly used subs bench. Lets learn that lesson. Let's go, you Gunners!!!

Three seasons in a row they've bottled it from a position of command. Last season it was the title with a big points lead & the season before that it was top four after having a substantial points lead over Spurs. Everyone knows that if there's one thing you need to ensure during races it's that you win your home games, Arsenal failed to do that yesterday. For the past 20 years whatever race they've been involved in in the league they've bottled.

Did Villa ply any different from last game? Arsenal did not find a solution to their mid block.

Shame to see Arsenal bottling it again, but that being said I think finishing 2nd is still a decent position

Taking the title away from Man city is incredibly hard because the lower and midde level teams and Man united (representing the top 6) never put on any effort when they meet City, they give up before the game starts.

Teams sometimes lose not because of their performance, but because of the performance of their opponents. Credit to Palace and Villa. They’re not just there to roll over for Skye’s darlings.

It matters less how you feel Jeff, bottlejobs are bottlejobs

Thats all they can say Bottling anyone in a Pub could say that !

Man City beat Villa 4-1 without Haaland and De Bruyne what's Arsenal's excuse this Time??

Steady om Gabs, the result speaks volumes!

Villa played a great game.. Unai Emery Masterclass❤

I’m fuming and I saw Arteta plan coming. He would pick Zinchenko who is awful defensively. He would choose GJ up front despite having a 60% win rate vs 82% win rate with Havertz up front. 6 games left why did Arteta switch it up ffs Kiwior was actually good in the PL games

They’ve bottled it. Come at me

Ten Hag in every interview sounds like he’s trying to convince the Glazers that he’s got everything under control. And he is still over sharing. Keep your complaints about players in house.

Literally game of two halves yesterday, Martinez pulled off some great saves. Second half Villa played very well. How can Arsenal “bottle” a competition they were 3rd favourites to win.

They absolutely bottled it 😅, no doubting Emery did a fantastic job tactically but Arsenal had enough chances to put the game to bed and missed them all....the pressure is starting to choke them.

We bottled it. Let’s get real the game was a championship defining game and we wobbled and fell like last season

If they don't win the league now they are the biggest bottlers in prem history! 3 years in a row, first bottling the champions league place, then 2 league titles. That's after taking 8 points off City and Liverpool this season too.

Studio sad😂😂😂... thought arsenal has the best defense in the league .... playing the best football in the league

When Klopp announced he will leave Liverpool, Talksport including Jeff spent hours and hours talking about it. Yesterday Liverpool and Arsenal bottled it, and they spent 15 minutes talking about bananas on BBQs. Doh.

Where was the side pass, back pass, anyhow pass rice?

Lets not forget villa rolled over for man city when last facing them 🙄 Unai practically gifted them the win, no slight on villa though fairplay done us in, could've attempted it against city too though 😂

Still got Wolves, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Tottenham, Banter Utd & Everton to play.. They won't be getting maximum points from them

In the thrilling drama of a three-way title race in football, one fundamental truth remains: it's not over until it's mathematically impossible. The notion of labelling teams as "bottle jobs" is not only simplistic but also dismissive of the complexities and uncertainties inherent in the beautiful game. Football is a dynamic sport where momentum shifts, injuries occur, and surprises abound. To reduce the intricacies of a season-long battle to a single term is to overlook the nuances that make every match, every goal, and every twist in the narrative so captivating. In football, as in life, let's embrace the uncertainty and celebrate the resilience of the contenders until the final whistle blows. In recent weeks, Arsenal's fortunes have undergone a noticeable shift, particularly with the return of Zinchenko and Jesus to the starting lineup. While their absence through injury saw Arsenal's dominance soar, their reintroduction has yielded mixed results. Zinchenko, in particular, has struggled to recapture his earlier form, and the team as a whole has lacked the fluidity and cutting edge that characterized their earlier performances. To reignite their pursuit of silverware, tough decisions must be made. Dropping Zinchenko and Jesus from the starting lineup could provide the necessary shake-up to reignite Arsenal's spark. Additionally, Trossard's impact off the bench suggests a tactical adjustment may be in order, with the introduction of Matinelli from the start providing a fresh attacking dimension. For Arsenal to return to their imposing and dominant form, bold changes may be necessary to unlock their full potential.

There's only one team in England who could be accused of bottling the league & that's man city if they don't win the league. They have everything going for them, best manager, best team, best squad. Everyone else is hanging onto their coat tails & hoping they drop their performance levels so they have a chance to overcome them.

Looks like united will face competition from Arsenal for Gareth signature after the Euros

To win the title you have to acquire 6 points off Man City. If you beat them twice you have a chance. If Arsenal won on City's home turf they could afford to lose 1 game. But now they're up against it with difficult fixtures on the way. It's always a fine margin that makes the difference. It could end up being decided on goal difference if City drop points.

Don't keep it Bottled up Jeff. 😂

Can't win every game. Emery was never given the same chance at arsenal that arteta has had. He wasn't allowed to sign the players he wanted and was made to keep the bad eggs

I'm an Arsenal fan, and yeah, yeah, we did bottle it !!!

I'm a spurs supporter and apparently i know about bottling but I've never thought of Arsenal as bottlers regardless of results but if they lose to spurs next time out I'll have no sympathy

Well they did though didnt they. Should of been clear by half time. Bottled plenty of clear chances and then got exposed defensively.

Just remember liverpool Arsenal Bottle jobs ..... to a team with 100 plus charges yet no points deduction like other teams have

I wonder if gabby will say villa bottled it if they dont make top 4. Top of the league does not mean guarantee win

People say Arsenal boys are small boys with some sublime skills but no winning mentality.

Definitely bottled the match. As far as this season goes, there are still 6 games to be played so we’ll see. If they do what they did the past 2 seasons, then it will be a bottle job and 3 on the trot to boot. Not the kind of legacy anyone wants to be a part of. It sucks, but that is the reality.

Villa have beaten Arsenal twice this season. No shame on losing to the Mighty Villa

Arsenal should get Pochettino as manager. Then they would be the worlds extreme bottlers.

They are truly bottlers! They can be breaking our hearts year after year. Oh! I am heart broken!

Handful of games left at home at the business end for a title. You can't lose at home... that's a bottle job for sure!

There was no excuse for us to lose at home. Arsenal deserves to be called bottlers because of incompetence.

So Arsenal finally get beat in 2024 and they've bottled it? Give Villa credit for the way they played and deserved the victory. There's still a long way to go so Arsenal shouldn't despair yet! UTV!

Who is agbonlahor? The most insignificant voice in football punditry

Fair play to Villa they deserved the win. But fgs it wasn't Villa that cost us the title... EOTD ARSENAL COST ARSENAL the damm title. AFC have wasted the chance to win it yet again! But I dunno what Gabby Agbonlawhore is bragging about as wtf was the last time Villa won anything?! Oh yes ELC in 95. And he might have something to brag about if Villa actually managed to stay in the title race and compete to the end as they were at one point leading the league around Christmas.

Emery is a better manager than Mikel Arteta simple

That is the pure definition of a bottle job. Don't be asinine

- City win everything but CL - City/Pep had Failure Season - Arsenal capitulate time and again - Arsenal must not be called Bottlers?🤣

That’s bottling as bottling gets. God forbid you be nasty to poor little Arsenal

LiVARpool and Arsenal have the whingiest fans in the League. It was funny to watch them both bottle it this week

Villa were better the other 45. Not even scored against us. UTV

80 mill on Declan rice to finish in same position at best ….. embarrassing, this shows his true value but he’s English so he must be world class 🙄🙄🙄🙄🤣🤣🤣

the record shows the gunners took the.blows and bottled it anyway

Arsenal simply do not belong in a tittle race. A top 4 finish for them is a commendable achievement and the they should be lauded for it.

It is bk to bk Bottlers of the year Championships for Arteta and league 2 Saka a pure bottle job

If this was a race without City no one would say bottle. City are the X factor in this.

Gabby you have let yourself down .arsenal manager got it all wrong .

We all know what the gooner fans/media would be saying if Tottenham had done the same…for some reason Arsenal and Liverpool need noshing off by the media to placate their fans

Arsenal r entitled to lose a game after the run they’ve been on. Arteta got it wrong before the game. Had no one good to come on

Arsenal Spprter here That North London Forever song is AWFUL ! PLEASE STOP IT

North London bottling it forever!😂