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Played
November 25, 2012 1:30 AM MYT
Villa Park — Birmingham
Referee:‬ L. Mason‎
Attendance:‬ 34607‎
 

Aston Villa - Arsenal Preview: Wenger looking to stay in touch with title challengers

The Gunners have lost their last two Premier League matches away from home, while Paul Lambert's side are looking to recover from two straight defeats to the Manchester clubs

By Tom J Doyle

More On :  Arsenal FC, Aston Villa, Aston Villa vs Arsenal FC
CL - Arsenal FC v Montpellier Herault SC, Arsene Wenger
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

Aston Villa

Guzan
Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens,
Weimann, Westwood, Ireland, Bannan
Agbonlahor
Benteke
Arsenal

Szczesny
Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen
Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla
Walcott, Giroud, Podolski

Darren Bent (ankle) will be available for Aston Villa, but may have to settle for a place on the bench as Christian Benteke should continue up front for the hosts.

Joe Bennett (knee), Richard Dunne (groin), Chris Herd (knee), Charles N'Zogbia (knee) and Stilian Petrov (leukaemia) all have no set return date for the hosts.

Craig Gardner (ACL injury) will definitely miss out until May 2013 at the earliest.

Villa have no players suspended, but manager Paul Lambert will be forced to watch from the stands after receiving a one-match ban from the FA following his comments after the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Theo Walcott (shoulder) is in line to return for Arsenal after missing out against Montpellier with an injury picked up during the 5-2 victory over Tottenham last weekend.

Andre Santos (abdominal), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (Achilles) all have no confirmed return date from injury, while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (ankle) is out until at least January.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • The last time Aston Villa beat Arsenal at Villa Park in the Premier League was in 1998, with a 3-2 victory.
  • During those 14 games, the Villans have lost seven times, drawn six, and won just once.
  • The first league clash between the sides ended in a 2-1 win for Villa in 1904.
  • Villa only have one win in their last eight Premier League games, and sit 18th in the Premier League.
  • Villa conceded five goals in their last game (against Manchester City) while Arsenal scored five (against Spurs).
  • Jack Wilshere's goal (pictured) against Montpellier on Wednesday was his first in 725 days - the last came against Villa on 27 November 2010.
  • Theo Walcott has played a part in 13 goals this season with eight strikes and five assists, more than any other Arsenal player.
  • Olivier Giroud have five goals in his last six starts after only grabbing two in his opening 13 matches.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Aston Villa 1-3 Arsenal FC
    21.28 %
  • Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal FC
    16.86 %
  • Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal FC
    11.62 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Feb 23, 2013 Arsenal FC 2 - Aston Villa 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Nov 25, 2012 Aston Villa 0 - Arsenal FC 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Mar 24, 2012 Arsenal FC 3 - Aston Villa 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 30, 2012 Arsenal FC 3 - Aston Villa 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 22, 2011 Aston Villa 1 - Arsenal FC 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Aston Villa
May 19, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2EPL
May 11, 2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
May 4, 2013Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2EPL
Apr 30, 2013Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1EPL
Apr 23, 2013Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Arsenal FC
May 19, 2013Newcastle United 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
May 15, 2013Arsenal FC 4 - Wigan Athletic 1EPL
May 5, 2013QPR 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal FC 1 - Manchester United 1EPL
Apr 20, 2013Fulham 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Aston Villa $45.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns: Draw $35.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns: Arsenal $18.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Team News
Available Squads
22Bradley GuzanGoalkeeper
4Ron VlaarDefender
6Ciaran ClarkDefender
29Enda StevensDefender
34Matthew LowtonDefender
8Karim El AhmadiMidfielder
15Ashley WestwoodMidfielder
25Barry BannanMidfielder
11Gabriel AgbonlahorStriker
20C. BentekeStriker
26Andreas WeimannStriker
1Shay GivenGoalkeeper
30Eric LichajDefender
7Stephen IrelandMidfielder
12Marc AlbrightonMidfielder
14Brett HolmanMidfielder
16Fabian DelphMidfielder
21Jordan Nathaniel BoweryStriker
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
4Per MertesackerDefender
6Laurent KoscielnyDefender
25Carl Jenkinson Defender
28Kieran GibbsDefender
8Mikel ArtetaMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
19Santi CazorlaMidfielder
9Lukas PodolskiStriker
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
12Olivier GiroudStriker
24Vito MannoneGoalkeeper
3Bacary SagnaDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
10Jack WilshereMidfielder
35Francis CoquelinMidfielder
23Andrey ArshavinMidfielder
27GervinhoStriker
Players to Watch
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 11
Games Goals YC RC
28 9 4 0
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 19
Games Goals YC RC
38 12 1 0
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Aston Villa 1
Arsenal 3
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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