Arsenal v Aston Villa, Premier League Match Preview
It doesn’t seem like a match against one of the league’s leading strugglers would be a gut check for Arsenal, but given the events of the last week it certainly is. After sputtering out of the FA Cup and the emphatic way they were manhandled by Bayern, the Arsenal players may be looking forward to their match against Aston Villa.
With the 99.9% chance of another trophyless season looming, Arsenal only have the league to play for now. Not the title mind you, just their position in it. Places from3-6 are still very much a possibility for our boys. This weekend they can make significant progress to the uperside of that scale with a win against the visitors.
With Chelsea squaring off against Manchester City and Tottenham facing West Ham, Arsenal can make up ground on their hunt for a champion’s league spot by putting Aston Villa to the sword. But as we have see often this season nothing is easy for this group.
The reverse tie for Arsenal was a frustrating draw. Villa pressed and pressed Arsenal out of their passing lanes with the Gunners unable to find an answer to unlocking claret and blue. It was a signature of how other teams would set up against Arsenal this season and utterly force them off their game. However, Villa haven’t done well of late against teams retaining the ball and applying lots of pressure – letting games get away from them late in the match.
With Arsenal looking to restablish itself and gain some confidence, I won’t be surprised to see Arsenal coming out flying and testing a defense that doesn’t handle crosses too well. Sure Arsenal aren’t the best of crossers to target men, but they can still get in from the wings and apply pressure. American keeper Guzan has been a mixed bag for Villa, but he has done well enough to unseat Shay Given. Guzan is still finding his way int he Premier League and I suspect he may the next best American keeper to hold court in the Premier League but for now, its hit and miss. Arsenal need to take advantage of that.
If Arsenal can come out and dictate the game early and open it up the 3 points should be there for the taking. The best thing this side can do is get the crowd behind it immediately. The longer the match wears on without a goal, the more likely frustration will force the crowd to get edgy. Arsenal supporters have been class throughout, and while frustration has rung down after matches during the matches they’ve been absolutely stellar. The team needs that. They need that energy.
As good as this squad has been in the second half – league leaders by a mile if only the second 45 counted. – it needs to happen more in the first half. I was asked what the difference is – I can’t tell you. I don’t know if they just wake up the realization that the game is nearly over. I don’t suspect it’s Wenger with a blow-dryer speech. It’s not his style. I’m not even sure its Bould, as Arsene probably wouldn’t let him. Whatever it is, second half Arsenal are a marked improvement over first half Arsenal.
How Match Should Play Out:
Arsenal are going to have to put the woes of this week quickly behind them. They will hopefully come out flying looking to put Aston Villa away early. With so much turmoil in both teams the one who gets the upper hand early will likely rule the day. Aston Villa will likely come in and press much like they did at home against us. They could go with five defenders and take away their width which would be advantageous to the Gunners. Some are calling this a draw because of Arsenal’s woes. Given how Arsenal have scored nearly 3 goals per game at home and Villa have only scored an average of 1 goal a game on the road – I don’t see it that way. Arsenal win.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Lukas Podolski. In my opinion our most clinical finisher. He can be frustrating at times but for the most part has been a solid effective signing for Arsenal.
Aston Villa. Christian Benteke. Could be auditioning for Arsenal. Been a good signing for Villa leading the way with scoring. Arsenal must prevent crosses from getting in to him.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Gibbs (thigh), Sagna (knee)
Aston Villa: Albrighton(foot), Herd (foot), Dunne (groin), Petrov (illness), Gardner (knee)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Walcott 11
Aston Villa: Benteke 11
Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Podolski 9
Aston Villa: Benteke 4
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 0
Aston Villa: 0
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.5
Aston Villa (away): 1.1
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 1.4
Aston Villa: (away): 2.4
Last Five:
Arsenal: WWDWL
Aston Villa: WDLDL
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 21
Aston Villa: -25
Match Official:
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Matches: 19. R1 Y74
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer Plus 10:oo AM EST
UK: BBC Match of the Day One (Highlights)
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Aston Villa: 1
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The Good: Santi Cazorla, we won, Jenkinson’s celebration in the stands after the 2nd goal.
The Bad: Continued lack of defensive coverage, Giroud’s poor conversion rate.
The Ugly: CZ’s two handed flap for the equalizer.
The potential Ugly: Repeating this performance at White Hart Lane.
OMG, was that the most painful three points you’ve ever seen? The collective lack of confidence, the general low level of technical quality and physical presence, the defensive frailties…..The averageness just goes so incredibly deep. The early goal, beating the Wenger Out chants (which were supposed to come in the 8th minute, if I’m not mistaken, to indicate the trophy free years) did nothing to perk up the squad. Instead, as the half rolled (interminably on) the focus and application only seemed to drop….
“Push, push,” as always, seemed the dressing room talk, but then the fore-aft balance was off. Jenkinson, who actually surprised me with slightly more precise touches than I was expecting, headed down to the Villa guy and their break (from our corner) beat Sleepy (er, Sneezy) from distance. It was as predicable as Diaby limping off hurt….. But we huffed and we puffed and got the job done. Credit to Nacho for his first time pull back on Jack’s sand-wedge over the top. Maybe new blood IS a good thing…. I liked Santi kicking down the microphone in the post goal celebration. His frustration should be Gooner-versal….
So, 3 points, but now we need some misfortune to happen to Spurs in their Monday game. We are absolutely limping into the crucial derby so we can only hope that they do likewise. I think we’ll have a better crowd behind our boys for that one as only the bravest, most daring of Gooners would make that venture given the depth of the malaise and the very, very possible beat-down Spurs could hand us.
But they’re screw-ups too, we hope, and if not, we’ve got a week to try and spin it a little more positively. The next circle of hell has been averted by securing today’s points and, at least (Stupified) Stan looked appropriately invigorated by what he saw….. I guess you could call it “momentum,” but it seems the feeblest, least convincing type of that Newtonian force I have ever witnessed…..
I understand the need to create drama with the headline, because there’s precious little drama on the pitch, but this isn’t the “Ultimate” anything. It’s just another week. Win, draw, lose…it will prove nothing and change even less.
And that’s why I don’t pay for FSC + anymore. I can read about how it turns out.
FSC+ is free this month, I’m pretty sure….Trying to lure in those high-falutin Arsenal supporting types….
Heh. That true. Thanks for the heads up. For free, I can at least manage to push a DVR button.
Sunderland?
Hey I cut and past the stats structure week to week. I forgot one.
You could cut and paste the entire preview and most likely still come out looking fine.
Kudos to you Mike for writing this up… I find watching another grasp for 4th place a little underwhelming.
For me Carlo Ancelotti is the man to quickly and efficiently tidy up the squad and steer us back to competing to win. We know he’s interested, he’s said so publicly, and I think he’ll find the more stable environment of The Emirates quite refreshing after Chelsea and PSG. We need an experienced professional manager like an Ancelotti to get us back on track and to make the hard decisions with the squad. He’ll command respect from the players and the club hierachy immediately. The danger with a younger less-established manager is that a dodgey start could quickly turn sour – think AVB.