Match Preview: Arsenal v Aston Villa; Premier League Match Day 30

My first thought was: We are not going to win. But that’s changed, sort of.
My reason for not expecting three points is because it’s our second game in four days (with a two day gap) whereas Villa haven’t played in fourteen days. Really good organisation there from the Premier League hierarchy.
Anyhow, I don’t think we’ll play badly, I don’t think we’ll be put to the sword by the likes of Heskey and I don’t think we’ll go down without a fight. Well, when I say “go down” I mean “play” – it just sounded a bit more dramatic. Aston Villa will be without Darren Bent, Richard Dunne, Fabian Delph and Ciaran Clark tomorrow. Charles N’Zogbia is also a doubt.
When you look back at the Everton game you realise that there wasn’t a lot of running from Van Persie and Ramsey, although they still worked hard and did what they had to do. With those two in mind, throw Andre Santos and Oxlade-Chamberlain into the equation and you have four of our very best players relatively fit – presuming Santos has reached full match-fitness after his injury. So with that in mind, it all seems fairly dandy. I can’t think anyone in particular that will be rested, although it is likely that Chamberlain will start. Obviously we won’t be fielding twelve men at the first whistle, but you get my point.
Now look at the momentum: Aston Villa have won three out of the eleven games they have played in 2012; Villa’s most recent victory came from a last-gasp goal against Fulham. They have no momentum; I think that two week break has hindered their chances. As for us, we have built up a fair amount of momentum winning all of our last five games. On top of that, we’ve scored seventeen goals in our last four home games. That’s an outstanding 4.25 goals per game. If you look at it in more depth, those goals have come against some tough opposition, and Tottenham. But in all seriousness, putting seven past Blackburn is quite impressive, and with the time it took Krul to get the ball back into play, I’m surprised we got one against Newcastle, let alone two!
Taking all of the above factors into account, my current thought is: we can win.
Anyway, that’s it from me, I’ll let DAG take over…
Thanks Myles.
Of course we can win. But will we?
There is a lot going in our direction. We are getting healthy at the right moment. For the first time in as long as I can remember we come into a match with out any fresh injury concerns. Additionally, we have a back 4 that is growing in confidence and consistency the longer it plays together.
With someone likely to drop some points at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal have a real opportunity to widen their gap and take hold of the Champion’s League spot they now control. We’ve talked about it before, they are the only ones who control their destiny and they can make a bigger statement by winning their 7th straight match (a feat they haven’t done since 2007). Focus and consistency are of the utmost importance at this point. The lack of commitment that was on display at the San Siro has no place in this club any more – a return of that form – and well someone, either Spurs or Chelsea will close the gap in on the Gunners.
The good thing though is that confidence and commitment reign supreme at London Colney. You only need to go to the club Web site and see the pictures of the team and the relaxed way they seem to be going about things. The tension of the task at hand does not seem to be getting to them and if anything Arsene Wenger and Robin van Persie deserve credit for making this feeling and attitude permeates through the squad.
Here’s another thing you know, should we win on Saturday then it will be the first March in recent history that we have not had a major stumble. Sure there is this match and the next but at the same time we are in form and maybe, just maybe we’ve finally moved beyond our March stumbles.
How the Match Should Play Out:
I fully expect Arsenal to come out much the same way they did against Everton, trying to put Aston Villa to the sword early. The good thing is that Villa are not as collected defensively as Everton is and without Richard Dunne in their back line, sustained pressure early by the Gunners should open the game wide up for the them. Without Darren Bent and the possibility of N’Zogbia being out, only Gabby Agboblahor remains as the Villains most viable attack option. In the end he won’t be enough.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chmaberlain. If as Myles and I both expect there is some squad rotation then the Ox is likely to get a nod in place of Gervinho.
Aston Villa. Gabby Agbonlahor. With Darren Bent out, Gabby moves to the middle, he hasn’t been the Gabby we remember under Martin O’Neill but he still has speed and skill at his disposal.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Coquelin (hamstring) Frimpong (knee) Mertesacker (ankle) Wilshere (ankle)
Aston Villa: Bent (ankle) Dunne (shoulder) Delph (ankle) Clark (knee).
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 26
Aston Villa: Bent 9
Last Meeting (FA Cup):
Arsenal: 3
Aston Villa: 2
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.2
Aston Villa (away): 1.1
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 0.9
Aston Villa: (away): 1.3
Last Five:
Arsenal: WWWWW
Aston Villa: WDDLL
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 19
Aston Villa: -4
Match Official:
Referee: Phil Dowd (Matches 22, R3 Y88)
Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel 11:00 AM EST
UK: ????? 1500 GMT
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Aston Villa: 0
22 comments
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Josh, Dembele with another good game… I reckon I’m gonna be rooting for Belgium in the next WC/Euros. Starting to get quite a squad:
Verminator, Kompany, Lukaku bros (who’ll have 2-4 more years of experience), Dembele, Fellaini, Vertonghen, Hazard (also with more experience…). That’s class all over the pitch…
@stag133,
Because deadwood to one club is not necessarily the same for another, and Arsenal still happens to be one of the top teams in the country. We got rid of Silvestre, I imagine if we really wanted we could rid ourselves of some of these players.
I don’t for one second think we’ll get much in the way of transfer fees, other than Bendy and maybe Vela. In most cases I think we’ll have to reduce our asking price so that the buying club can afford the stupid wages we pay some of these guys. But the point I’m trying to make is that it would reduce our weekly wage layout, which I think is as big a factor in transfers/keeping players as a transfer kitty.
Squillace and Almunia for example, unless my numbers are wrong, would free up more than 100k per week!! Give that to Rvp…
@OziKenyan,
Hmm that was meant to be in response to stag below.. Not sure how it ended up as a new post…
3-0 is a good scoreline. it suggests you were clinical in front of goal and resolute in the back. at the emirates without bent and n’zogbia, villa never had a chance.
i think arsenal will finish third this season. arsenal only have the league to contend with and most of the starters are fit and playing well. finishing third is a far cry from what many predicted. a lot of guys on this very site suggested arsenal would be no more than a mid-table team without fabregas. seriously, those guys were just here like 6 months ago. what ever happened to them?
the form over the past month is the arsenal’s best since the first half of the ’07-’08 season. ironically, that coincides with rosicky’s return to top form, which he hasn’t shown since the first half of the ’07-’08 season. bottom line, arsenal have looked down right dominant lately against everyone. i don’t believe it’s going to stop. both chelsea and manchester city still have to come to the emirates needing to collect maximum points against a pressure-free arsenal. ha-haa! we’ll see.
@joshuad, I can’t shake the feeling that Arsenal is going to drop some points against some of the smaller clubs. It would be so typical of this team to make it through this tough stretch and throw away points against the lesser lights of the league. ZBut this team is performing very atypically from Arsenal squads of the last 4-5 years and is finishing strong instead.
Like you, I’ve noticed how much influence Rosicky has had this latter part of the season. It’s great to see him performing like he would have been (at least I think so)the last couple years if he hadn’t been injured. He’s on the north side of 30, but he has a lot more tread on the tire than many older players simply because he couldn’t play.
@joshuad, those folks include me… they probably went to the same place the AKBers go when we were in the shitter… there are some of those AKBers that never returned.
3rd would be a small miracle… but this current team is closer to 7th or 8th, than it is to winning the league…
Without talent coming in, and RVP staying, we’re the same thing, year after year… no hopers for trophies, just playing for Wenger’s for folly = 4th place.
Rosicky HAS played well. I’ll give him credit. First time since he’s been at the club that he’s been at this level of play. I loved his signing, but he’s mostly been flotsam and jetsam for YEARS…
Sad, but I’m once again waiting for something to happen in a Summer.
@joshuad, Villa were terrible….Once Djourou
shook off the early Hesky elbow it was all Arsenal….A little boring, but
we could use a bit of that sort of thing…..(And what’s the latest on
LK6? I know he’s shit, but I like him A LOT and hope his injury is minor.)
Agree josh about Sicky. He looks better every match. He was gassed after 40
mins against Milan and after an hour in both matches up in Liverpool.
Against Villa he looked good to the very end, same too (obviously) with
Mikel Arteta, who finally made me think we’re not missing Denilson’s
right footed free kicks (winky face there, eh)…..
I really think there’s been a revival in the spirit AND fitness in the
squad since Arshavin’s departure. With some squad players giving so much
(Rosicky and Benayoun come to mind) and others working extremely hard to
get fit after injury or a layoff (Sagna, Santos, Thierry Henry) it gets
tough on the “collective mental stengff” if there’s a player
(your most expensive signing to boot….) who is worried if the warm-up
is going to be overly strenuous…..
Some will sound the usual “buy, buy, buy” refrain, but the squad seems
pretty good to me, with healthy competition for places at most positions.
And for the first time in a long while, young players (no matter how
promising they appear (I’m thinking Ox and Rambo here….) are not just
handed spots in the first 11. As such, I think we’d be far wiser using
our resources to get our best players signed on for the longer term.
(Easier said, than done, I realize, but what a boost it will be when RVP
puts pen to paper…..) Finally, Lu, Lu, Lucas Poldoski seems a good
signing, and we’ve got the like-new-ones (Wilshere, Diaby) who might cameo
even earlier. More would be nice but only if they will fit in, and to do
so (these days) you would think they would need to be, what’s the term?….
Super-Quality…..
Of course, it’s not a done deal….. We NEED to handle this little bit of
pressure and finish as the top team in London (i.e., 3rd) With extra time
between matches (because, again we are out of the cups, frowny face….)
the competitionand growth of the WHOLE TEAM must continue, so we’re qualified for next
year AND stronger in depth. As many suggest, we will drop points along
the way, but so will the others. As long as we can regroup and keep pushing
forward I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to get the job done and feel
at least somewhat equipped to see 2011 as a nadir and 2012 as a
springboard towards better times….but now I feel like I need a
shower, my hippie optimism starting to stink up the place….
@HighburyTerraceSteve,
Hey DAG,
Any chance we can get the edit function and/or word wrap
working in these response boxes (and maybe something visible
for responses to responses)?…..
Sorry to be a whiny bitch, but at least it’s not about the
club…..
Also, THANKS (big time) for the shirt—I’m one for one
(with a clean sheet….) while wearing it….
@HighburyTerraceSteve, don’t buy, SELL.
That’s the KEY.
Sell RVP to the absolute highest bidder, hopefully Man City, because they’ll overpay…
Then we can wait all Summer to actually do the sale, that way we’ll have no time to spend any of the profit we make on that money grubbing / trophy wanting Judas…(unless he stays of course, then he’s a hero!)
Yes, HTS… we actually have to F*CKING BUY PLAYERS… if we want to WIN TROPHIES.
That is the GOAL OF WINNERS. WINNING.
4th place is for F*CKING LOSERS.
@stag133, Still bumming about
City drawing at Stoke while United get the favorable reffing?
For Arsenal 7 wins in a row, and it only gets worse….
I think I get it, Losing is winning, and winning is losing,
or something.
Let’s review:
Chelsea BOUGHT Torres!!! (Mata, Luis, Cahill, etc.) WINNERS!!!
Pool BOUGHT Carroll!!! (Downing, Adam, etc.) WINNERS!!!!
City BOUGHT EVERYBODY!!! (then loaned them out) BIGGEST
WINNER of them all!!!!
We (or I should say They…I refer to Arsenal, of course…
have BOUGHT players too….But somehow we’re F*CKING LOSERS
You (my friend) are getting tougher and tougher to take….
But rage on, if you must….
@HighburyTerraceSteve, Liverpool win a trophy? yep.
Chelsea still in it for trophies (yep)
How about UNITED?
City still in it for the League and trophies?
Yes and yes.
I know you don’t care about WINNING.
But I don’t qualify 3rd place and exits from all Cups as winning anything…
How hard is that to understand?
Apparently, its difficult… because you don’t remember Arsenal EVER winning a thing.
The entire point of a top level club, is TO WIN TROPHIES.
It is NOT to make money.
@HighburyTerraceSteve,
LU LU LU Lucas Podolski…
Loll. That stupid song is soo stuck in my head after that youtube clip. Bloody annoying
Can’t help feeling that even with our recent string of success, it’s virtually impossible to expect us not to drop points in the remaining 8 games, especially with Stoke and QPR away and Chelsea, MC at home.
Keeping everything in perspective, if we win or draw with Chelsea at home we should be assured of 4th place and CL qualification. The Spuds have been dropping points, but both they and NC have an easy run till season’s end.
Wow, guess I have come a long way when winning the 4th place trophy is my expectations.
@Caribkid, I think if RVP stays healthy all the way thru…
we should be able to stay in the Top 4.
We are playing well, and the two chasing us are NOT…
Arsenal are in the catbird seat… and we’d have to fold like an accordion in order to NOT get a Top 4 spot.
(which is winning the Championship for Wenger and the Board!)
@Caribkid,
Thanks for the ticketing tips Carib. Will start contacting the blogs and all..
@Caribkid,
On race for champs league spots, we’d have to have a colossal capitulation to not make it at this stage. Our focus should be to consolidate 3rd place and aim to cut the lead to the top 2 as best we can. While unlikely (highly so), it is possible that city’s poor run continues, and if both ourselves and man u beat them (again, highly unlikely), we could be within 8 pts of the mighty manchester city. Doesn’t really do much on the surface, 3rd is still 3rd, but the psychological impact I think could be significant when it comes to how our mood/mindset is going into next season. It would be that little bit more convincing to the likes of RVP and Podolski that Arsenal are heading in the right direction and that trophies can be had here.
Also a strong finish to the season, a good off-season with regards to transfers* will hopefully see us carry this momentum into next season avoiding the terrible start we had to this season (no CL qualifying games is HUGE, bigger than most ppl seem to be giving it credit for).
@OziKenyan,
*I know Arsenal and a good off-season do not go hand in hand at all. But the recent comments from wenger about how they’ll approach this season are encouraging. I’m not referring to his timeless super super quality signing but the one where he stressed the desire not to leave it to the last minute this time around.
And my expectations have been lowered too. I don’t ask for much:
-RVP signing a new contract – about 50-50 I think at this stage. A strong finish to the season I think swings it to about 60-40 in our favour
-Wilshere coming back and not getting massacred by England (euros or olympics)
-1-2 quality signings. Podolski seems 90% done deal and is quality judging by what everyone on here is saying (haven’t seen enough myself). Hopefully that gets done early.
-Get rid of the deadwood EARLY so that we can reinvest the funds with plenty of time. Squillaci, Bendy, Denilson (have we sold him or is he on loan?, Chamakh, Almunia, Vela (still don’t know how he hasn’t managed to make it). I don’t really see anyone else leaving (though some probably need to). These will go a long way to clearing a big part of the deadwood and clear up enough in the wage bill to sign a “super-super quality player”
Another plus is that other than RVP, I don’t see clubs trying to poach any of our other integral players.
@OziKenyan, who in their right minds will actually pay for players that we feel are “dead wood”? Its just not likely team(s) will come in for the likes of Almunia, Denilson, Squillaci… NOT going to happen. If we can get anything for Chamakh, and send him back to France, he might be a player that we’ll get a bit for. He’ll succeed there, where he was/is comfortable… and Bendtner is not a bad striker, and I’d imagine we’ll get a bit for him as well.
But it won’t add up to much… we’ve got Arshavin coming back, as he’s on loan, and I doubt we’ll give him away, and I doubt his Russian club will pony up anything close to half what we paid for him.
But that’s what makes the off-season fun. That, and its the Euros this Summer too… and the Olympics, so World Class football has no break this Summer! :)
that was the proverbial “walk in the park” today.
very nice to see, and watch in comfort.
Feel sorry for the Villa fans, McLeish has taken that team to the dogs, but on the positive side, a comfortable win, 8 point gap on chelsea, 3 points ahead of Sp*rs. Perfect weekend really
perfect result for Arsenal early… with both Chelsea and Spurs dropping 2 points to us…
Koscielny injured in pre-game?
figures.
But we have Theo. Can’t keep him on the bench HTS, he’s our 2nd best scorer.
already 2-0, and it looks like we’ll score 4 or 5 today….
Anybody watching Chelsea-Spurs? Total snoozer (but for a little flurry/futility from Spurs right at the close of the half)….I could use some chat (I’ll sit in the GDC….) or more coffee or something….
Nice preview and I like the multiple author thing. I think we might rotate a bit more, maybe putting Theo on the bench (as a would be super sub….) and maybe giving Santos a chance to show what he’s got in his comeback from injury rather than having Gibbs pick up his next one….
OK, to the GDC, hoping for 3….