Played
February 23, 2013 3:00 PM GMT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: M. Atkinson
Attendance: 60079
February 23, 2013 3:00 PM GMT
Emirates Stadium — London
Referee: M. Atkinson
Attendance: 60079
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| Arsenal | 1.36 | 1.03 | 1.03 | 1.36 | 0.00 | 1.01 | 1.30 | 1.33 | 1.01 | 1.31 |
| Draw | 5.00 | 15.00 | 13.00 | 5.00 | 0.00 | 23.00 | 5.50 | 5.25 | 17.00 | 5.60 |
| Aston Villa | 8.00 | 81.00 | 56.00 | 8.50 | 0.00 | 501.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | 100.00 | 9.64 |
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).
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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 %
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Feb 23, 2013 | Arsenal 2 - Aston Villa 1 |
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| England - Premier League (EPL) | Nov 24, 2012 | Aston Villa 0 - Arsenal 0 |
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| England - Premier League (EPL) | Mar 24, 2012 | Arsenal 3 - Aston Villa 0 |
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| England - FA Cup (FA) | Jan 29, 2012 | Arsenal 3 - Aston Villa 2 |
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| England - Premier League (EPL) | Dec 21, 2011 | Aston Villa 1 - Arsenal 2 |
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Arsenal
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| May 19, 2013 | Newcastle 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| May 14, 2013 | Arsenal 4 - Wigan Athletic 1 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | QPR 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
Aston Villa
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| May 19, 2013 | Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| May 11, 2013 | Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| Apr 29, 2013 | Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1 | EPL |
| Apr 22, 2013 | Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
| Returns: | Arsenal £13.64 |
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Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets | |
| Returns: | Draw £230.00 |
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Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Aston Villa £5010.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
| 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 |
| - | Simon Dawkins | Striker |
| Olivier Giroud | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 12 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
The Frenchman would have been unhappy not to start against Bayern Munich and therefore has a point to prove to Arsene Wenger. The defensive partnership of Vlaar and Clark have struggled against big centre forwards in recent weeks, with the likes of Victor Anichebe and Andy Carroll causing the pair panic at times. Giroud, if he starts, should see it as a great opportunity to improve his goal tally and bring some cheer to Arsenal after a nightmare week.
| Andreas Weimann | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 26 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
The Austrian has shown the predatory instincts needed in the Premier League on occasion, and with Benteke contesting aerial balls against the Arsenal centre-halves the onus will be on Weimann, and Agbonlahor, to support the Belgian in attack. The midfielder will spend most of the match up against Carl Jenkinson and will fancy his chances against the young right-back.
Aston Villa are well rested after almost two weeks out of action while the Gunners have been through an energy-sapping week. It's hard to see Arsenal fall to three successive home defeats, though, so expect a reaction from Wenger's men.
Results
Times In GMT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie Striker Man Utd. |
26 | 3 |
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Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
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Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
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C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
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Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
