Aston Villa host Arsenal on Monday night this January 13th. Arsenal will be looking for revenge after Aston Villa beat Wenger’s men at the Emirates stadium at the first game of the season. That was a day where Aston Villa looked good and where tipped for great things; while Arsenal failed to bring anyone during the transfer window and looked like a team that would struggle. 6 months on, the complete opposite occurred. Aston Villa in mid-table not looking too inspiring, and Arsenal are doing well, with the team chasing the League title.
Aston Villa haven’t been doing to well at home this season, recently lost to Crystal Palace and struggled to beat Swansea. However they have beaten Man. City at home so the team is capable of putting in a good performance. Arsenal meanwhile are struggling with injuries, Walcott has been ruled out for the season and Bendtner is out for a few months. It has made their team light.
Team News:
Aston Villa will assess the fitness of central defenders Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker. Both defenders missed the FA Cup clash against Sheffield United. Gabby Agbonlahor and Brad Guzan will be fit to play having both missed the FA Cup game with niggling injuries. Meanwhile the match against Arsenal is too soon for Chris Herd and Joe Bennett who have both returned to training.
Arsenal expect to recall Olivier Giroud who has recovered from illness and an ankle problem. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in the squad having recovered from a serious knee injury, he made his return in a reserve match this Thursday. Meanwhile, Ramsay and Gibbs are doubts for this game. Walcott, Diaby, Sanogo and Bendtner all miss out with injuries.
Match Facts:
Victory in this game would be Aston Villa’s 300th in Barclays Premier League history.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 14 Barclays Premier League trips to Villa Park, winning seven and drawing seven.
The Gunners’ 14 game unbeaten run at Villa is their longest away run without defeat against a single side in Premier League history.
No team has scored the first goal in more Premier League games this season than Arsenal (15). Conversely, no side has scored the first goal on fewer occasions this season than Aston Villa (5).
Arsene Wenger’s side have won just two of their last nine Premier League matches in January (D2 L5).
Aston Villa have used fewer players in the Premier League this season (21) than any other club.
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Baker-Luna
Westwood-Delph
Albrighton-Benteke-Agbonlahor
Giroud
Podolski-Ozil-Cazorla
Flamini-Wilshire
Gibbs-Vermaelen-Koscielny-Sagna
Szczesny
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
I’ve seen many people predicting a draw to Aston Villa, which I can personally see happening. But the thing is, in order for Aston Villa to get a draw Arsenal are going to have to play badly. I just don’t see that happening. We beat them last game but that’ll only motivate them to win. Also the return of Vlaar is essential. He is such a key defender, he organises the back well and with him in the side Aston Villa are much stronger defensively. I think we’ll see 5 at the back should both Baker and Vlaar return. Arsenal will play good football and I reckon Cazorla and Podolski will cause the most amount of trouble.
Off topic, but…if Stoke are so desperate to sign up Ireland permanently why not play hardball and ask for Adam or Znzonzi as a straight swap?
Completely agree Langford. Not so sure on Nnzonzi but Adam, love him or hate him, would make a massive difference to this team. No more opposition waltzing through the middle. Tough, bit of a bully, very vocal but can play a but as well. Apparently Galatasaray are in for him according to SSN.
Stoke lost 3-5.
I heard the naughton on the radio on my way home ~ is there any truth in it ?? plus grealish returned from loan we need some new faces squad needs a good shake up
p.s villa av beaten some good teams already this season proving that once the focus is not on them 2 win ~ they can upset the form books ~ I just fancy it 2 happen again
JAY DEE we would all love that.
I’d love to know where you lot get your info,if it’s facebook fuck that not subscribed.just wondered.
Everything surrounding Villa is so entirely predictable.
We’re at home therefore we’ll lose, we’ll have less than 30% possession, Guzan will be forced to make numerous top saves to stop the score from being embarrassing, there will be boos at half and full time, lamberk will scurry down the touchline looking gormless and after the game he will mumble the same “we go again” nonsense. Then we’ll spend the rest of the week being linked to good players we’re not going to get whilst we line up some useless turd from Macclesfield.
We need to stop the cycle and the first step in that is sacking Lamberk. But hey we all know it won’t happen, another depressing week following the unambitious joke that is AVFC
First ste is for Randy to release the moths from his wallet!
Lol spot on belcs.
Read all about! Read all about it!
Gormless mumbling twat runs down tunnel in arsenal humiliation promising to sign star 6ft 8 festival league striker!
You forgot the hiding we will get from the bin dippers at weekend just to complete a predictable week. Mumble mumble
Mumble Mumble, but I couldn’t fault the lads effort,Mumble Mumble Mumble.
Belcs, that’s exactly how I see it. Same shit, different week.
I really don’t want to be thinking like that, but you can’t deny the truth you see before your eyes when we play.
It’s all thoroughly depressing 🙁
speaking of the Liverpool game, sturridge made his return to partnering suarez today, 2 goals and 2 assists in 27 2nd half mins between the pair of em.
oh joy!
Now now NM. you’re getting ahead of yourself. Let’s get humiliated by Arsenal first before worrying about the next pasting!
lol! 😀