Aston Villa v Arsenal Pre-Match Thread

[silhillvilla]

If Bent is fit he HAS to start with Benteke.
Is Dunne back aswell ?

[MarkM]

1-2 defeat

[CJ]

If Bent is fit he HAS to start with Benteke.
Is Dunne back aswell ?

According to Physioroom Dunne & Bent are still injured with no return date

[silhillvilla]

Really ? I heard bent had tweeted he's fit and ready for weekend and I read somewhere that Dunne was back in light training ?

[eastie]

If Bent is fit he HAS to start with Benteke.
Is Dunne back aswell ?

According to Physioroom Dunne & Bent are still injured with no return date

Bent had tweeted that he's ready and sharp and looking forward to the weekend.

[N'ZMAV]

I'd have to play Bent up front with Benteke. Get the ball up to Bentekes feet and get Bent running off him. We need more options in the attacking third. So Weimmann and Ireland also to play off him, I'd probably have Westwood and KEA in the middle of the park.

[CJ]

If Bent is fit he HAS to start with Benteke.
Is Dunne back aswell ?

According to Physioroom Dunne & Bent are still injured with no return date

Bent had tweeted that he's ready and sharp and looking forward to the weekend.

Hmmm....be interesting if he's not in the squad on Saturday then.  The plot thickens!


Edit: Or of course Physioroom could just be full of crap

[tomd2103]

If Bent is fit he HAS to start with Benteke.
Is Dunne back aswell ?

According to Physioroom Dunne & Bent are still injured with no return date

Bent had tweeted that he's ready and sharp and looking forward to the weekend.

Hmmm....be interesting if he's not in the squad on Saturday then.  The plot thickens!


Edit: Or of course Physioroom could just be full of crap

The more likely of the two I would guess!!

[Le Lapin]

Hopefully we can give Les Arse a good spanking. Benteke to frighten the crap out their centre backs and Wenger to whinge that it was unfair of Villa to send a player like that out against them.

1-1 to us. We'll concede our usual late goal.

[villan1975]

Think we have a good chance in this one though opted for a draw. If we play like we did against manure we will get
atleast a point.

[cheltenhamlion]

Oh, I bet the weather is shite.

[Lizz]

1-1. Arsenal are inconsistent, hoping that continues after their win tonight. They'll be expecting to beat us. I can but hope.

[supertom]

Think we need as many of our experienced players back as possible. I'd put Holman back in. Bent if he's back, needs to start playing.
For me Bannan, Delph, Albrighton aren't good enough for this level. Herd isn't really either but makes up for it with his determination and energy. Westwood is still young, but looked anonymous against City. I'd drop him for this game.


I'd play a midfield of
Gabby, Ireland, KEA, Holman.

Gabby providing the width, and the other three narrower, with Lowton offering some wide on the other side. I think left back we look particularly weak, so I'd keep Gab wider to help out Bennett/Stevens. I don't think we can do much better than that to be honest, sadly.

Bent and Benteke up front. Benteke to drop off or pull wide when needs be.

[Matt Collins]

I'd play a midfield of
Gabby, Ireland, KEA, Holman

I think that midfield would get ripped to pieces against arsenal. I can't see that we can play a normal 442 against these. I'd have thought the sale formula as v man u. Two deep lying midfielders protecting the space in front of the back 4; and then energy and pace to get at their defence. I'd play the same side with a question about left back. Walcott is in excellent form. Probably lichaj I think.

[JUAN PABLO]

Id throw Bent in with Benteke and Weimann either side on attack  . Ireland , Westwood and Bannon in nidddle.  Bring Baker in for Enda , with baker or Clark at RB.

2-1  Villa

shit , pissed again , meant LB