Arsenal v Aston Villa F.A. Cup 4th Round Pre-Match Thread

[Mister E]

AMcL just needs to read out Lawrenson's comments (I refuse to refer to him by his pals' diminutive name for him); nothing more need be said.
We'll win.

[manic-road]

Ever the optimist i have gone for a 1-2 win.

Bent x2

[TheSandman]

If we're talking tactics I'd definitely put Keane in and rest one of Bent and Gabby especially as I'm putting a tenner on him to score first. I'm not sure but doesn't Keane have a very good scoring record against Arsenal?

I'm inclined to go unchanged from the second half team against Wanky Wolves.

[CJ]

Lawrenson is a twat and gets more 'predictions' wrong than right. The sooner they clear him, Alan 'pass and move' Hansen, Shearer and Lineker from the cosy MOTD couch the better. On the strength of Lawrenson predicting us to lose I've changed my view from a draw to a win.

[hipkiss92]

I don't mind Lineker on MOTD, but the others are all useless. Lee Dixon is the best pundit at the BBC, and rather sadly Gary Neville is better than all of them on Sky.

[Matt Collins]

All of the above posts reinforce my point about the difficulty of Keane and Ireland in the same side. Are we really going to play Keane on the wing?

I suspect we'll see Ireland on the bench tomorrow. Which is a shame in many ways as I think this is EXACTLY his sort of game.

[hawkeye]

I would definately play ireland and have Keane on the Bench, The amount of space we gave wolves in the first half was because of Keane. Bring him on in the second half.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Good sign that we have a dilema with a couple of players. But for me Keane has got to be in the starting eleven. Keane has set the benchmark after the Wolves game and now Ireland and Nzogbia have got  to reach the levels he has set .......

[hawkeye]

Good sign that we have a dilema with a couple of players. But for me Keane has got to be in the starting eleven. Keane has set the benchmark after the Wolves game and now Ireland and Nzogbia have got  to reach the levels he has set .......

Ireland has beeen our best player recently, he has legs, keane does not, if you play Keane it has to be for Bent, if we give Arsenal the space we gave wolves we will be down by 3 by half time

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Gabby has to play. Arsenal have no full-backs and Mertesacker - just give Gabby the ball and tell him to run at them. They'll shit themselves.

This.
If Gabby's up for it they will have no choice but to crumble in his wake!

[Aston Manor]

3-5

Bent 4 0-1
Bent 6 0-2
Oxo cube 22 1-2
Gardner 37 1-3
Bent 61 1-4
VanPire 62 2-4
Henry 67 3-4
Hutton 88 3-5

[Matt Collins]

Good sign that we have a dilema with a couple of players. But for me Keane has got to be in the starting eleven. Keane has set the benchmark after the Wolves game and now Ireland and Nzogbia have got  to reach the levels he has set .......

Ireland has beeen our best player recently, he has legs, keane does not, if you play Keane it has to be for Bent, if we give Arsenal the space we gave wolves we will be down by 3 by half time

I don't see how you can play Keane as the lone front man. I too would put him on the bench, ready to come on for the last half hour and start Wednesday. I'd play the same side as against Chelsea, but with Bent for CNZ and Gabby wide.

[Mazrim]

You cant play Keane up front on his own. You could play Ireland and Keane behind Bent say. But Keane on his own is pretty pointless and neutralizes all the qualities he brings.

[hawkeye]

You cant play Keane up front on his own. You could play Ireland and Keane behind Bent say. But Keane on his own is pretty pointless and neutralizes all the qualities he brings.

You can not surrender the midfield either, particularly against Arsenal, in terms of hold up play Keane would be more effective than Bent. I would play Allbrighton Clark Petrov Ireland Gabby with Bent or Keane up top.

[timeoutbigbar]

I did feel pretty positive about this one before I checked the poll, now I'm not sure.  If the majority of people expect us to win then it's set us up for a fall.  Strange logic I know.

Sticking to it,   2-1 Villa.