Aston Villa v Arsenal Match Thread

[gervilla]

I think Benteke will get some joy against their centre backs.
I don't rate either of them.

[Jimbo]

Bent must have shat in Lambert's porridge.

[Malandro]

think he may remain our most expensive signing for a very long time

[Axl Rose]

Bent should have been in the squad today, we need goals...my first feeling of annoyance towards Lambert. Up the Villa-come on lads!

[PaulTheVillan]

think he may remain our most expensive signing for a very long time

I don't think we'll ever sign anyone for £18m+

[hilts_coolerking]

BBC seem to think he's fit.  Got to be worth a place on the bench at least, surely, if not in the starting XI.

[hilts_coolerking]

Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Stevens, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Bannan, Weimann, Gabby and Benteke


No Bent on the bench

Christ the lack of experience in that side is remarkable.

[Toronto Villa]

What are the odds Bent said something when finding out he wasn't starting and therefore wan't even included in the matchday squad? I support what Lambert is trying to do but this is ludicrous. Find a way to play him and get the best out of him. It has to negatively affect the squad because they know how good his is and how important he can be in their fight.

[pooligan]

If Bent is fit and he would rather have Bowery ahead of him ,well words fail me to be honest.

[hilts_coolerking]

What are the odds Bent said something when finding out he wasn't starting and therefore wan't even included in the matchday squad? I support what Lambert is trying to do but this is ludicrous. Find a way to play him and get the best out of him. It has to negatively affect the squad because they know how good his is and how important he can be in their fight.

Play him or sell him.  One or the other.  Having a £16M player on his wages not being used at all is madness.

[ozzjim]

If he is genuinely fit, and there is nothing else in between yesterday and today, then something is clearly broken between them and Lambert was lying to the press. Unless the reading game is in his mind.

[PaulWinch again]

It's its utter madness.

[Monty]

Well, I think we should all be agreed there are no footballing reasons for him to be behind Bowery in the pecking order. If he is fit, that just leads to one conclusion really - on his way out.

[ez]

I don't know whats going on with Bent but i hope its sorted soon. We need him... probably more than he needs us actually.

[PeterWithesShin]

Well, I think we should all be agreed there are no footballing reasons for him to be behind Bowery in the pecking order. If he is fit, that just leads to one conclusion really - on his way out.

Hard to think otherwise if  he is fit. The one thing we don't know though is how Bent may or may not be behaving in training etc. Lambert could be fully justified in not including him, or he could just be acting stubborn and cutting his nose off. We've no way of knowing for sure.