Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on February 18, 2013, 04:45:13 PM
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Saturday 23.2.13 KO 3pm
A valuable, well-earned draw.
1-1
Benteke 12
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Them 4 Us 1. We go again.
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Sanj from Reading: 'We ought to be beating the likes of Aston Villa!!! Wenger out!!!'
Is what I want to be seeing on the BBC Sport website after the game.
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Saturday 23.2.13 KO 3pm
A valuable, well-earned draw.
1-1
Benteke 12
I reckon we will win the penalty shoot out. Oh yeah, it's not a real cup final!
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I'm going for history to be made as Arsenal score from a corner for the first time in their history. And the second time in their history, and the third...
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I think Benteke and Agbonlahor will cause them problems. Arsenal are wobbling, but still have a tendency to score 2 or 3 quickly. Even if may well lose, it will be a test of whether we show ourselves capable of not capitulating if we do go behind.
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Got a good feeling, but gonna opt for a draw and not a win.
2-2 with us leading and them getting a late equaliser.
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Arsenal 3-1 Villa
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3-0 Arsenal.
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Gone for the draw. As long as we don't get hammered in either of the next two games i think we will have done well, current league position and all the bullshit about BFS set aside. Two draws would be good and a cheeky win from either would have us dancing.
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Them 1 Us 4
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Them 1 Us 4
I will take some of that action. Have you the odds for that result ?
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Hard fought 1-1
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After initially going 0-2 up... arteta does a wonder strike from a stupid foul that bennett does. Then a podolski tap in from 3 yards when the defence gets mixed up...
2-2
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No real expectations in this one for us ....all the pressure will be on them ...
Lets just simply go there with a positive attitude rather like Everton and anything can happen
Every game is a cup tie for us now so we need to go for it ...also the result of midweek for them could influence matters
Lets hope the Sunday papers are talking about Wenger being on borrowed time ...
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1-0 them
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I have a feeling we'll put on an Anfield-esque performance and come away with a 3-1 victory and 3 points.
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2-0 villa win
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2-1 Arsenal.
Our front three will cause them problems without doubt but I fear they'll be too strong in central midfield as they still have excellent players like Wilshere, Arteta and Carzola all in there.
I think Weimann will drop out for this one, Bowery aswell as I think this type of game would be too much for him. Expecting Gabby and maybe Sylla to start. Leave the rest of the team as it is.
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Arsenal will probably get battered by Bayern Munich midweek and with Wenger's job on the line at the weekend they'll respond by tearing us a new one
I'll go 4-0 Arsenal with Lambert picking some bizarre 3-2-4-1 formation just to keep us on our toes!
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2-2 Benteke x2
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just need to get our noses in front, we've shown ourselves to be a difficult team to breakdown.
Enough of the bullshit. Arse pass the ball quickly, with precision - so I think we'll get another spanking.
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If we could get a result here it would be a massive boost.
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I fancy we might get something out of this. Arsenal will think we are an easy touch and not concentrate properly. They will keep an eye on Benteke but not on N'Zogbia who might keep up his recent encouraging form. Weimann will miss this one with either Agbonlahor or Bent coming in.
Obviously they miss Van Persie (who wouldnt) and without him their attack is blunted. If we can break up their passing game we could take the points.
I will go with 1-2.
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If we could get a result here it would be a massive boost.
Agreed.
2-2 Clark and Benteke for us.
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I think we will get a point or even a shock win.
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I'll take a draw!
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One problem is that if we lose we will definitely be in the bottom three on Saturday evening, because Wigan are playing Reading. This is a real pivotal match, if we win we'll definitely gain points on at least one of our relegation rivals. If we lose they'll definitely gain points on us.
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Villa are not easy to predict , could snatch a 2-1 away win or get beat 6-0 , i think most expect us to lose here so anything more would be a nice bonus, 2-2 draw is my forecast.
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We will look better for parts but they will win in the end 2-1 or 3-1
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2-1 to the Gooners
Probably a decent first half performance by the Villa and then they give it to Walcott for some old style kick and rush
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After the win the last thing we needed was a 2 week break, and with the flak thats been flying at Wenger lately i think we could be on the end of a hammering. 3-1.
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think we will score but they will win 3-1 with one of there goals coming from the penalty spot
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We'll get battered but hold on to a 1-1.
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Fucking 2-2
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I really hope Arsenal come back and get a result tonight, I don't want the backlash on Saturday.
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Think we can get a point here 1-1
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1-0 Villa. Benteke 22 mins. No backlash, the arse are shot.
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After tonight,I just hope we really start well,get them on the back foot and get an early goal. UTV
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If we are strong at the back then we have nothing to fear as they are very weak defensively. PLEASE do not start with Bennett at LB.
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Gone for a win, due mainly to the usual optimism I feel about us going to the emirates.
I do think we can get something out of this match. I'd take a point beforehand if it was offered, but we showed at anfield that with a bit of luck we can go and get a result.
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Don't want to worry people but even Arsenal scored from a corner....
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Don't want to worry people but even Arsenal scored from a corner....
BFS and his West Ham didn't !
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Gone for a draw.
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We are 9/1 to win...
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Worth a tenner then.
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Arsenal will be under real pressure to win on saturday , if we can get ahead the fans will show their frustration -we have a chance of a result .
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Wenger will be delighted about playing us next. Whenever a team really needs a result, we often oblige, and I can't see anything other than a resounding display of generosity from us here. 4-0.
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We are 9/1 to win...
really ??? might have a cheeky Tony on that.
UTV
The Doc
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After last night i bet Arsenal fans looked at the fixture and thought "thank fuck for that it the villa"
They are having a torrid time with loads of bad press, we won our last game and show some fighting spirit
5-0 Arsenal :'(
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We are 9/1 to win...
really ??? might have a cheeky Tony on that.
UTV
The Doc
Not sure its worth risking a tony on it , but i will put a patrick on it being a draw.
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Looking at their defence last night, i can see our front three of Gabby, Zoggy and Benteke causing them a few problems.
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I'd like to see N'Zog stay in the hole where he has been devastating, rather than wide, I might throw Holman in on the right as he's naturally a more defensive minded player than Weimann/Dawkins/Bowery. Given as Arsenal aren't brilliant in the air, I'd play Bennett rather than Baker at left back, but maybe go with Baker over Clark at centre half.
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I think this could well be a game between the team with the best record this season for scoring after the 80th minute against the team with the worst record for conceding in that period. I also have a gut feeling the result could be nil nil. Just don't ask me to back up that prediction with any facts or logic.
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We are just perfect oppostion for the Arsenal this weekend......4 or 5 nil to them. Impressive optimism though from over 50% of voters who think we wont get beat!
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Nzog used to always play great against arsenal . 1-1 . very happy If we get that .
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Fuck it, shock 2 nil away win.
Gabby, Weimann
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If we can stop them scoring for the first 89 minutes, we may get something out of this
Or maybe not
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I'm expecting an Arsenal backlash after the last couple of weeks they've had. 5-1 to them.
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a surprising 2-2
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A return to form for Arsenal. 3 - 0
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I see Piers Morgan thinks Wenger is 'no longer a top flight manager' what a clueless moron.
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Backlash time I'm afraid. 3-1 to Arsenal.
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Arsenal haven't lost 3 games in a row at home since the Cretaceous Period
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2-2
There will be no feelings of satisfaction, however, as Villa will take a 2-1 lead in the 91st minute only to lose it in the 94th. From a corner.
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5-5 draw. From 5-2 up with less than 3 minutes to go.
Bannan with four goals and an assist, answering his critics in the best possible way.
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On a shit run? Play the Villa, that'll put you right. 3-0 Arse.
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just watched again on AVTV the win at Arsenal under McAllister. Amazing to think how much less experience and quality we have in the side today. Delph an Walker were the youngest players that day. Quite depressing really looking at it now. Saturday is going to be really good or really bad in my opinion. Either come out firing and do us properly, or we take advantage of their depression and add to it. That crowd will get on their players and manager really quickly if we can get a lead and put them under pressure early on. They have no chance at in Munich, so I do fear they'll play a strong side and try to ensure 4th place becomes their only goal this season.
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I agree with you Toronto Villa, if we can hold them for more that 25 minutes then we have a chance as thier support starts to get restless. We have the ability to hold them, but a win would be amazing. A lot of Gooners on Talk Sport tonight are slagging off Wenger for not winning against Munich, not winning the FA Cup and showing a lack of ambition for only wanting to finish 4th in the Prem (oh.... how we dream of such whinges) so holding them and giving them a hard game for more that 25 minutes should make it close.
If the Arse rise up and give it thier all we will be in trouble but if they feel a bit of pressure then we have a chance.
There is no pressure on our lads, we all (along with the nation) expect them to lose - this is our best advantage.
Play without fear!!
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Arsenal aren't a million miles from being as amusingly shit as Liverpool.
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We'll wipe the floor with them.
In the post match interview Wenger will develop a Herbert Lom style twitch as he insists the first 4 goals were the referees fault.
Benteke will see the light and punch his big mouthed agent in the face.
Mertesacker will change his name to Scrotum.
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Arsenal aren't a million miles from being as amusingly shit as Liverpool.
In some ways they're worse. At least liverpool have managed a cup in the last 7 years
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They've become a walking excuse of a club. Everyone's pointing fingers at everyone from the board down. It's like they are in a perpetual state of self denial. They walk around with fingers in their ears screaming "lalalalala..." So they can avoid hearing the truth. Is it really any wonder that players that have left the club in the past few years have gone on to incredible success?
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We are going to get gubbed. It wouldn't be a pleasant surprise if we won, it would be a fecking miracle on a par with Paris Hilton being the next pope.
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Managed to blag a couple of corporate tickets today for this. Going with my Dad who is a Gooner. Should be interesting...He actually had a couple of tickets to see Charlton play Forest on Saturday which I was happy to go along to but we've pawned them off to my sister and her boyfriend.
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They've become a walking excuse of a club. Everyone's pointing fingers at everyone from the board down. It's like they are in a perpetual state of self denial. They walk around with fingers in their ears screaming "lalalalala..." So they can avoid hearing the truth. Is it really any wonder that players that have left the club in the past few years have gone on to incredible success?
I can't believe how some of their fans have reacted to the Munich defeat. Arsenal simply aren't in the same class as those elite teams anymore and can't compete with them.
I think it is a great time to be going there and if (big if) we can get the first goal, I think their fans will turn on them big time.
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I actually feel less confident after their last two results. Just get the feeling that they will take it all out on us now.
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Backlash. 0-4 or 5.
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Villa backlash
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Dirty weekend away with Mrs H ;)
I will score more than us...........but they will score more than me :'(
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I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.
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I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.
I would take that.
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I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.
I would take that.
So would I, but very unlikely.
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Surely the best time to play this lot? An early goal for us will have the fans turning on them. I'm thinking 3-1 to us!
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I actually feel less confident after their last two results. Just get the feeling that they will take it all out on us now.
That's all about the character of the side and this Arsenal team strike me as more likely to sulk than come out all guns blazing. I agree with MonsXI and the first goal will be crucial.
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I keep trying to imagine what a Nick Hornby novel about this season would be like.
A load of self-pitying shit, I would imagine.
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I keep trying to imagine what a Nick Hornby novel about this season would be like.
A load of self-pitying shit, I would imagine.
It would have a certain amount of The Great Gatsby in their what with its failed American dream.
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Surely the best time to play this lot? An early goal for us will have the fans turning on them. I'm thinking 3-1 to us!
Though Arsenal no longer have the edge required to win trophies, they always seem to be pretty resilient when it comes to doing what's needed to finish in the top 4, so a pretty dangerous time to play them I reckon.
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Well two equally crap defences meet each other and we must be able to score against them and equally they are going to score. Therefore we will obviously need at least 2 goals and probably 3 goals to win it, but I seriously think that we won’t have a better chance. Arsenal aren't a physical side so they won't bully us, which should suit us, as long as they keep on playing tippy-tappy football without getting anywhere. Our away form is better than our home form and as long as we are positive and our forwards are on song then I think we will win 3-2.
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I'd go along with all of this "Potential Backlash" stuff if we were playing Man U after they'd lost 2 games, however Arsenal just don't have the same kind of mental strength. Also, for a club like Arsenal, the current team is pretty low on quality, and at the moment low on confidence.
Therefore it must be as good a time as any to play them, and nick at least a point from a fixture I'd previously expected to get nothing from.
1-1.
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Surely the best time to play this lot? An early goal for us will have the fans turning on them. I'm thinking 3-1 to us!
Though Arsenal no longer have the edge required to win trophies, they always seem to be pretty resilient when it comes to doing what's needed to finish in the top 4, so a pretty dangerous time to play them I reckon.
They don't look much like a team with resilience at present, they are there for the taking hopefully we go and take the points!
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Can't agree with any positivity about this, we'll lose by a couple of goals I reckon. A draw if Arsenal don't turn up.
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Saturday 23.2.13 KO 3pm
A valuable, well-earned draw.
1-1
Benteke 12
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Saturday 23.2.13 KO 3pm
A valuable, well-earned draw.
1-1
Benteke 12
Whatever happened to the "0-2 away win" posts, Leeg?
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The most effective way to play Arsenal is basically what Blackburn did to them. Stay solid, make sure there are no gaps to play through and do it long enough that start to run out of ideas and become frustrated. Hit them on the counter and take the chances when they present themselves. I doubt we're solid enough to keep denying them but we can hope.
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Saturday 23.2.13 KO 3pm
A valuable, well-earned draw.
1-1
Benteke 12
Whatever happened to the "0-2 away win" posts, Leeg?
I gave up when we lost time after time after time. A change is as good as a rest.
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Well, given our undoubted prowess up front we should really be playing on the front foot and hope that we can score more than we concede.
So, we'll either win 4-3 or lose 4-1.
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Going for a Villa, win but it will be surprising to see Arsenal lose 3 on the bounce
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My belief is at an all time low. I expect a Chelsea style thrashing of us and what little confidence we have built up to be smashed into tiny pieces.
I would be over the moon with a point even if we can get it by them being down to 9 men and us being up 3-0 at half time.
But I expect a heavy defeat :(
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Going for a Villa, win but it will be surprising to see Arsenal lose 3 on the bounce
But orgasmic at the same time!
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Arsenal 5 Villa 3
An entertaining game, Gabby and Benteke will rip them apart, but equally Walcott will do the same to Vlaar and Clark.
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A classic ending 2-3. I hope so anyway for everyone going to watch.
I'll make do with fox sports as usual.
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We will be losing 1-0 going into injury time, when Guy Whittingham and Andy Townsend will come on and score two quick goals in stoppage time.
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Bit gutted Sagna is out of our game, he's been awful recently.
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Bit gutted Sagna is out of our game, he's been awful recently.
That will mean the even more awful Jenkinson will be playing though.
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Apparantley they had three centre half's in their back four on Tuesday night and as we know, centre halfs don't like players running at them. I think Ramsey and Wilshire in the middle of the park can be got at as well.
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They're certainly weak defensively, but the so are we.
They play with a three in the middle to dictate things, so that's what we need to try and stop them doing. It might be a game to rest Weimann and add Sylla to toughen us up in there. Still play N'Zogbia behind Benteke and tell Gabby to pick out which fullback looks weakest and have a go at him!
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Bit gutted Sagna is out of our game, he's been awful recently.
I have had a pathological hate of that bloke ever since THAT league cup final where he was absolutely fucking shite against the Rags, he looked scared to death through the whole game, despite the fact he is quite a decent player normally.
Anyway, I think its a good time to play them and think we can nick a 1-1 draw, which for us is pretty good.
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Bit gutted Sagna is out of our game, he's been awful recently.
I have had a pathological hate of that bloke ever since THAT league cup final where he was absolutely fucking shite against the Rags, he looked scared to death through the whole game, despite the fact he is quite a decent player normally.
Anyway, I think its a good time to play them and think we can nick a 1-1 draw, which for us is pretty good.
There was a time a few years ago when I genuinely believed he was the best right back in Europe. How wrong I was.
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Excited about this game , will be an open attacking game , always a chance when there are two dodgy defences - bring it on !
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I'd definitely take a draw now. Should be a long old afternoon without seeing much of the ball. Let's hope we can stick away whatever chances get.
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Good that N'Zog, Gabby and KEA are available. Pace will be critical to this game, so N'Zog and Gabby performing well is key.
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Can honestly say i think we will win this one. I don't think Arsenal have it in them for a '' Backlash'' type scenario at the moment.
If we keep onto them for the whole game i think we will win and win well.
Benteke will tear their defense a new arsehole.
3-1 Villa.
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I have this feeling we're going to do them 3-2 tomorrow, tempted to have a cheeky bet on it too :)
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Apparantley they had three centre half's in their back four on Tuesday night and as we know, centre halfs don't like players running at them. I think Ramsey and Wilshire in the middle of the park can be got at as well.
Ramsey is inconsistent and massively overrated your correct that we could really get at him, possibly a job for Sylla to unsettle them in the middle?
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Monreal being fit is a problem, he looked excellent the other week and will terrorise us down the right.
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There was a time a few years ago when I genuinely believed he was the best right back in Europe. How wrong I was.
You were young, foolish, addicted to Chipsticks. Happens to us all.
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4-1 to the Arse
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Can honestly say i think we will win this one. I don't think Arsenal have it in them for a '' Backlash'' type scenario at the moment.
If we keep onto them for the whole game i think we will win and win well.
Benteke will tear their defense a new arsehole.
3-1 Villa.
Posts like this scare me a little, as we normally end up getting stuffed when we're expecting to do well. Go back to the Chelsea pre-match thread and it's probably not to disimilar to this one, with us on a high after winning at Anfield, and fuck me did we come down to earth with a bang!
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4-1 to the Arse
That's more like it! ;)
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4-1 to the Arse
That's more like it! ;)
I will stick with the Benteke tearing new arsehole in their defence, if that's ok. ;)
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Nursey speaks-
Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Saturday at Arsenal.
After four points from two games for Villa, and successive defeats for Arsenal, the fixture does not look as intimidating as it might have done a few months ago.
Indeed, with Gunners' fans on under-pressure boss Arsene Wenger's back, it is arguably the perfect time for Villa to visit.
Arsenal's players will be encouraged by the restless home crowd to push forward at every opportunity.
And that will leave space for Villa to hit them on the break.
With the likes of Christian Benteke, Charles N'Zogbia and Gabby Agbonlahor all fit for Saturday, Villa have the pace to really hurt Arsenal on the counter-attack.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Villa picking up at least a point from the Emirates with Wenger's side clearly lacking confidence.
Or even perhaps Villa may even emulate Blackburn and Bayern Munich by winning there.
Agbonlahor missed the last game over West Ham with illness, as I revealed on my Daily Mirror Twitter account @JamesNursey.
But the lightening quick striker will be back for Arsenal and I expect him to replace Jordan Bowery in the starting line-up.
Arsenal fans have been flooding the internet and airwaves recently with many demanding Wenger leaves.
It will make for a very difficult atmosphere for the Frenchman this weekend and he could be forgiven for rather having an away game instead.
But, in contrast, I do believe the Villa supporters have generally been very fair with boss Paul Lambert.
Sure, there have been several occasions when the side have been booed off at half-time or the full-time whistle.
And of course the keyboard warriors have demanded Lambert's head occasionally from behind the security of their computers.
But considering the amount of pain Villa fans have endured this season - including the record 8-0 loss at Chelsea and humiliating Cup exits to lower league opposition, especially League Two Bradford over two legs in the League Cup semi-finals, they have not openly turned on Lambert in widespread revolt.
I think most can appreciate the Scot has not had huge resources at his disposal to work with.
He is trying to make root and branch changes to the first team squad that in the long-term should benefit Villa.
It has entailed short-term pain.
But mere survival this season would still be an achievement and is clearly vital given the new TV money coming into the top-flight next season.
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By Ed Malyon | 22/02/13
France full-back Bacary Sagna - linked with a move away from the club today - will miss out for Arsenal in tomorrow's Premier League match against Aston Villa.
The right-back has a knee problem and will not be available, while fellow defender Kieran Gibbs remains out with a thigh injury.
On a more positive note, new signing Nacho Monreal is available again for Arsene Wenger's side.
For Aston Villa, playmaker Charles N'Zogbia has recovered from the thigh injury suffered during the closing stages against West Ham.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder Karim El Ahmadi are also available after illness ruled them out of the 2-1 win against Sam Allardyce's side.
Defender Chris Herd (foot) is also poised to return to training next week but winger Marc Albrighton (foot) and defender Richard Dunne (groin) are still ruled out.
Arsenal squad : Szczesny, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Podolski, Arteta, Cazorla, Wilshere, Walcott, Giroud, Mannone, Coquelin, Ramsey, Diaby, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Miquel.
Villa squad : Guzan, Given, Marshall, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Lichaj, Stevens, Baker, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Sylla, Ireland, Westwood, Dawkins, N'Zogbia, Bannan, Holman, Benteke, Agbonlahor, Bent, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams, Carruthers.
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Good news about Sagna. I'd imagine they will switch Koscielny to right back then and Vermaelen back into the centre? Let's hope we can get high enough up the pitch to hurt them. Wilshere could run rings round our central midfield though. He's absolutely brilliant to watch at the moment. Such a rarity for an English player.
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I foresee a 2-0 up go on to lose 3-2 scenario.
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Glad Gabby is back, perfect game for him.
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If we can keep a clean sheet for 30 minutes we've got a chance. I do realise what I've just said there is 'if humans could all live in peace we'd all have a great time'. Hmm.
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Can't see Arsenal losing three homes games in a week to be honest,so i am going for a 2-2 draw.
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Possibly the most unpredictable game of the season. But two weak defences will concede goals. 1-2 Benteke-Nzogbia .....
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almost certainly going to be a high scoring game. would be very worried about what Walcott is going to do to Baker but Lichaj is woeful on the left too so we have no other real options. Id drop Weimann and give Kea another chance in the midfield with Delph and Westwood.
Arsenal can certainly be got at defensively. Game seems perfect for Benteke, Nzogbia and Gabby. If we manage to score first can see the home crowd turn pretty badly on Wenger. Will be disappointed if we dont manage to pick up at least a point
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almost certainly going to be a high scoring game. would be very worried about what Walcott is going to do to Baker but Lichaj is woeful on the left too so we have no other real options.
What about Enda?
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Matchday at last - bring on those gunners!
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almost certainly going to be a high scoring game. would be very worried about what Walcott is going to do to Baker but Lichaj is woeful on the left too so we have no other real options.
What about Enda?
nowhere near good enough I'm afraid. Nor Bennett for that matter. If we stay in the league, we should be letting both go in the summer.
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almost certainly going to be a high scoring game. would be very worried about what Walcott is going to do to Baker but Lichaj is woeful on the left too so we have no other real options.
What about Enda?
nowhere near good enough I'm afraid. Nor Bennett for that matter. If we stay in the league, we should be letting both go in the summer.
enda stevens is nowhere good enough, totally agree with that. bennett needs time. dont forget that after signing baines for £6m from wigan, everton stuck him on the bench for 18 months and he hardly ever got a touch of a ball. now look what he is doing. patience is required with bennett.
i do not feel the result will go our way today, it reminds me of 3 years ago when they bought fabregas on and he scored twice and then they took him off again, we were on a high and they were on a low before that game. was in a pub called the worlds end inn before the match round the corner and a few arsenal fans were saying how they were dreading playing us that day. 4-1 to them i think! sorry, usually totally optimistic but not today. please let me be wrong!
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Play as well as we know they can for 90 +mins and I can see us getting at least a point, play the usual ok for 45, useless for 45 and we'll get a good hiding, simple as that.
I think we'll be well up for this one, 2-2 Benteke & Gabby
UTV!
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With the week Arsenal have had they'll want to pick up 3 points with a convincing home win. With the exception of QPR, who would they pick to play? Reading or us I would imagine. I can see us causing them problems, but if they play Walcott through the middle he'll tear apart Clark and Playdoh Ron
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I do feel surprisingly bullish about this. I really think Gabby - who seems to love playing at the Emirates, Benteke - who probably wants to audition, and N'Zogbia - who is looking really threatening of late, will be a real threat.
N'Zogbia has looked very good in the no 10 role, but I think he might bring in an extra midfielder like Sylla or KEA for Weimann, and play N'Zogbia wide right
Worried about the left back slot, especially if Walcott plays there. Baker is probably the best bet, but Walcott could tear him to pieces.
Disappointed, if not surprised, that people have given up on Bennett already. He looks to have good technical skills to me, he just needs to man up massively. But that may well be doable. I'd just prefer it if we had a better option right now.
Delph has been doing well of late, but a big test today v Wilshere. Great player.
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2-1 villa
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Got a feeling we won't be last on MOTD tonight.
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enda stevens is nowhere good enough, totally agree with that. bennett needs time. dont forget that after signing baines for £6m from wigan, everton stuck him on the bench for 18 months and he hardly ever got a touch of a ball. now look what he is doing. patience is required with bennett.
i do not feel the result will go our way today, it reminds me of 3 years ago when they bought fabregas on and he scored twice and then they took him off again, we were on a high and they were on a low before that game. was in a pub called the worlds end inn before the match round the corner and a few arsenal fans were saying how they were dreading playing us that day. 4-1 to them i think! sorry, usually totally optimistic but not today. please let me be wrong!
Couldn't argue with anything here. If Bennett is showing no signs in a couple of years of improving defensively, then may be the time to start thinking about getting rid. He's showed enough glimpses in his play going forward that he can make it at this level imo. Just needs time and experience to sort his defensive abilities out. As do most of our defenders.
My head says around 4-1 to them as well. They score more than 2 a game on average at home and we concede more than 2 away. Might be a long day chasing shadows if we concede early. Need to make sure we're still in it at half time, even just a goal down would do, then their fans might get a bit frustrated that they're not battering us and it could make them edgy. I'm not certainly not going to be disappointed if we get a beating though. With the players they have they should easily be taking care of us at home.
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Same team that started vs West Ham except Gabby for Bowery I would also consider Sylla to unsettle the Arsenal centre mids.
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Someone needs to do a job on Wilshire all afternoon. Delph perhaps ?
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Got a feeling we won't be last on MOTD tonight.
True, but lets hope that's for the right reasons - a surprise away win, rather than a goal fest for the Arse!
I'm confident of at least a point today which is scary as I'm usually a pessimist. Anything from the next two is a bonus, but it's the March double header against Reading and QPR that really counts.
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well I always used to look at Arsenal's squad and say 'fuck me , god helps us. but I don't any more .
Come on villa , split these f**kers another arse , get the 3 points and start moving out of danger.
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They`re wounded no doubt, so either they`ll cave or fight like a Gippo`s dog, if we score first it could go tits up completely for `em, but if they score first.........
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2-1 villa
This. We've had a 2 week break and they've lost twice in the last 7 days. They are there for the taking.
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See if you can read this (http://tinyurl.com/a3x38y2) without cringing. I had to stop and smash things when he quoted David Baddiel.
It's everything that's worst about Football, Arsenal and The Guardian newspaper.
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See if you can read this (http://tinyurl.com/a3x38y2) without cringing. I had to stop and smash things when he quoted David Baddiel.
It's everything that's worst about Football, Arsenal and The Guardian newspaper.
Amazing how none of these new fans who suddenly discover football decide to support the likes of Bury or Torquay isn't it.
And I love this in the comments page.
Yay!
Go Arsenal United.
Hopefully they can follow up a victory in the six nations with a successful defence of the ashes.
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I think a draw wouldn't be too bad but a win is not entirely out of the question. I'm spending today with an Arse supporter, and he is actually less looking forward to 5.00 as I am...
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pre match nerves kicked in. argh why do I let it bother me!
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We've had a two week rest, and after the run of results they've had there's probably never a better time to be playing them.
So I confidently predict we'll get a right dicking.
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I've had 10 bucks on us to win at 10/1 at the TAB.
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Please be aware there's travel disruption around The Emirates today. This is due to a major water pipe bursting to the south of the ground. This has resulted in the closure of surrounding roads and will cause disruption around the stadium before and after the match.
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Please be aware there's travel disruption around The Emirates today. This is due to a major water pipe bursting to the south of the ground. This has resulted in the closure of surrounding roads and will cause disruption around the stadium before and after the match.
I'm about to get the tube to the ground, so hopefully it won't affect those of us on foot
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See if you can read this (http://tinyurl.com/a3x38y2) without cringing. I had to stop and smash things when he quoted David Baddiel.
It's everything that's worst about Football, Arsenal and The Guardian newspaper.
Amazing how none of these new fans who suddenly discover football decide to support the likes of Bury or Torquay isn't it.
And I love this in the comments page.
Yay!
Go Arsenal United.
Hopefully they can follow up a victory in the six nations with a successful defence of the ashes.
I started following Piers Morgan on Twitter a few weeks ago, because of his stance on gun control in the US, but I've stopped again because of his endless, endless fucking whinging about Arsenal and how dreadful it is to be supporting them nowadays.
He should try being a supporter of about 87 other league clubs for a while, and see how he likes it.
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I find myself in the Club Circle at Emirates today. A prawn cocktail invite! I must this place is impressive. The sheer scale and class of hospitality is behind compare.
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I find myself in the Club Circle at Emirates today. A prawn cocktail invite! I must this place is impressive. The sheer scale and class of hospitality is behind compare.
Lets hope it extends to the pitch..
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Jane borrowed a tenner off me last night so she could get a bag of crisps in the ground.
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See if you can read this (http://tinyurl.com/a3x38y2) without cringing. I had to stop and smash things when he quoted David Baddiel.
It's everything that's worst about Football, Arsenal and The Guardian newspaper.
Amazing how none of these new fans who suddenly discover football decide to support the likes of Bury or Torquay isn't it.
And I love this in the comments page.
Yay!
Go Arsenal United.
Hopefully they can follow up a victory in the six nations with a successful defence of the ashes.
I started following Piers Morgan on Twitter a few weeks ago, because of his stance on gun control in the US, but I've stopped again because of his endless, endless fucking whinging about Arsenal and how dreadful it is to be supporting them nowadays.
He should try being a supporter of about 87 other league clubs for a while, and see how he likes it.
The number of guns in that country and I can't believe that no one's took a shot at that sleazy, corrupt, egotistical oddball.
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Either a plucky 1-1, a 1-3 where MOTD concentrate on Arsenal's defensive frailties, or they tear us another new one. Can't decide - UTV.
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Regardless of the result the media focus will be on Wenger.
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Fuck knows. There's goals in them their hills mind.
Who knows, if we score first then I fancy us for something.
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2-2 or 3-2 us. Can't decide what to do. Find a link, listen to Absolute radio or ignore, enjoy my afternoon and evening then watch it on sky later.
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VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Clark, Baker, Bennett, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Weimann, N'Zogbia, Benteke.
Marshall, El Ahmadi, Holman, Sylla, Bowery, Dawkins, Lichaj
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Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud, Diaby.
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Either a plucky 1-1, a 1-3 where MOTD concentrate on Arsenal's defensive frailties, or they tear us another new one. Can't decide - UTV.
This - just remember what they did to Southampton a while back.
Could be a 5-1 jobbie
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We'll bloody well win. Benteke to add £5 million to his price today.