Played
February 23, 2013 8:30 PM IST
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: M. Atkinson
Attendance: 60079
February 23, 2013 8:30 PM IST
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: M. Atkinson
Attendance: 60079
Arsenal - Aston Villa Preview: Gunners look to bounce back after successive cup defeats at the Emirates
Arsene Wenger's side return to league action against a struggling Villa needing a win to revive hopes of a Champions League finish, with Paul Lambert's men in a relegation scrap
By Husmukh Kerai
Arsene Wenger / Arsenal-Bayern
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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ARSENAL
 Szczesny Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal Wilshere, Arteta, Cazorla Podolski, Giroud, Walcott |
ASTON VILLA
 Guzan Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bennett Delph, Westwood, Ireland Weimann, Agbonlahor Benteke |
Arsenal will be without Bacary Sagna (knee) after he injured himself in the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in midweek, so Carl Jenkinson should start at right-back, with the Englishman's three-match suspension having run its course.
Kieran Gibbs (thigh) remains sidelined so Nacho Monreal will return at left-back after being cup-tied for the Champions League tie. Per Mertesacker will therefore probably make way and Thomas Vermaelen will move back to centre-back.
Olivier Giroud could start the game after he was introduced from the bench during the week, while Mikel Arteta will face competition from a fit again Abou Diaby in central midfield.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, could have Charles N'Zogbia (knee) back, although he may start from the bench. Richard Dunne (groin and hip) suffered a setback in his recovery, so is unlikely to play, elsewhere in defence, Chris Herd (foot) is also out.
Mark Albrighton (foot) and Gary Gardner (knee) remain long-term absentees, while Fabian Delph came through unscathed against West Ham so should continue in the starting XI.
Paul Lambert may also have Gabriel Agbonlahor and Karim El Ahmadi back in contention after they missed the clash with the Hammers with illness.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Arsenal have only scored one goal fewer (50) than they had at this point of their ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003-04.
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Arsene Wenger's side have created fewer goalscoring chances from corners than any other side this season.
- The Gunners have won only two of their last six home games against yhe Villans in the Premier League.
- Defeat to the Midlands outfit would be the north Londoners' third home loss in a row, the first time they have been on such a run at the Emirates Stadium.
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Aston Villa have only scored 16 goals in 20 away trips to Arsenal in the Premier League.
- Christian Benteke (pictured) has now scored in five successive appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Villa have been shown more yellow cards than any other Premier League team this season (54), while Arsenal have been shown the least (24).
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa
- 13.7 %
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Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
- 12.2 %
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Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa
- 12 %
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 23-Feb-2013 | Arsenal 2 - Aston Villa 1 |
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| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 24-Nov-2012 | Aston Villa 0 - Arsenal 0 |
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| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 24-Mar-2012 | Arsenal 3 - Aston Villa 0 |
|
| FA Cup (FA) | 29-Jan-2012 | Arsenal 3 - Aston Villa 2 |
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| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 22-Dec-2011 | Aston Villa 1 - Arsenal 2 |
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Arsenal
   |
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| 19-May-2013 | Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| 15-May-2013 | Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1 | EPL |
| 04-May-2013 | QPR 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| 28-Apr-2013 | Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| 20-Apr-2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
Aston Villa
  |
||
| 19-May-2013 | Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| 11-May-2013 | Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
| 04-May-2013 | Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| 30-Apr-2013 | Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1 | EPL |
| 23-Apr-2013 | Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
| 13 | Wojciech Szczesny | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Per Mertesacker | Defender |
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | Defender |
| 17 | Monreal | Defender |
| 25 | Carl Jenkinson | Defender |
| 2 | A. Diaby | Midfielder |
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | Midfielder |
| 10 | Jack Wilshere | Midfielder |
| 19 | Santi Cazorla | Midfielder |
| 12 | Olivier Giroud | Striker |
| 14 | Theo Walcott | Striker |
| 24 | Vito Mannone | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Laurent Koscielny | Defender |
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky | Midfielder |
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | Midfielder |
| 9 | Lukas Podolski | Striker |
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | Striker |
| 27 | Gervinho | Striker |
| 22 | Bradley Guzan | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Ron Vlaar | Defender |
| 6 | Ciaran Clark | Defender |
| 32 | Nathan Baker | Defender |
| 34 | Matthew Lowton | Defender |
| 27 | Joseph Bennett | Defender |
| 10 | Charles N'Zogbia | Midfielder |
| 15 | Ashley Westwood | Midfielder |
| 16 | Fabian Delph | Midfielder |
| 20 | C. Benteke | Striker |
| 26 | Andreas Weimann | Striker |
| 11 | Gabriel Agbonlahor | Striker |
| 33 | Andy Marshall | Goalkeeper |
| 30 | Eric Lichaj | Defender |
| 8 | Karim El Ahmadi | Midfielder |
| 14 | Brett Holman | Midfielder |
| 33 | Yacouba Sylla | Midfielder |
| 21 | Jordan Nathaniel Bowery | Striker |
| 10 | Simon Dawkins | Striker |
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