Arsenal v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

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.

[neo_Villan]

I actually feel less confident after their last two results. Just get the feeling that they will take it all out on us now.

[silhillvilla]

Backlash. 0-4 or 5.

[robbo1874]

Villa backlash

[CheeriOneill]

Dirty weekend away with Mrs H 

I will score more than us...........but they will score more than me 

[B90 villain]

I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.

[damon loves JT]

I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.

I would take that.

[not3bad]

I think it's going to be a boring 0-0 draw.

I would take that.

So would I, but very unlikely.

[MonsXI]

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!

[Concrete John]

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.

[damon loves JT]

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.

[Yossarian]

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.

[not3bad]

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.

[achilles]

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.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

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.