Goal.com - Home

thumbnail Hello,
 
Played
February 23, 2013 11:00 PM SGT
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
Arsene Wenger / Arsenal-Bayern
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

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.
  • 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.
  • 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
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
Odds
Returns: Arsenal 13.60 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns: Draw 50.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Returns: Aston Villa 80.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Team News
Available Squads
13Wojciech SzczesnyGoalkeeper
4Per MertesackerDefender
5Thomas VermaelenDefender
17MonrealDefender
25Carl Jenkinson Defender
2A. DiabyMidfielder
8Mikel ArtetaMidfielder
10Jack WilshereMidfielder
19Santi CazorlaMidfielder
12Olivier GiroudStriker
14Theo WalcottStriker
24Vito MannoneGoalkeeper
6Laurent KoscielnyDefender
7Tomas RosickyMidfielder
16Aaron RamseyMidfielder
9Lukas PodolskiStriker
15Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainStriker
27GervinhoStriker
22Bradley GuzanGoalkeeper
4Ron VlaarDefender
6Ciaran ClarkDefender
32Nathan BakerDefender
34Matthew LowtonDefender
27Joseph BennettDefender
10Charles N'ZogbiaMidfielder
15Ashley WestwoodMidfielder
16Fabian DelphMidfielder
20C. BentekeStriker
26Andreas WeimannStriker
11Gabriel AgbonlahorStriker
33Andy MarshallGoalkeeper
30Eric LichajDefender
8Karim El AhmadiMidfielder
14Brett HolmanMidfielder
33Yacouba SyllaMidfielder
21Jordan Nathaniel BoweryStriker
10Simon DawkinsStriker
Results