Arsenal v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

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

[Matt Collins]

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.

[curlytailavfc]

2-1 villa

[silhillvilla]

Got a feeling we won't be last on MOTD tonight.

[Jockey Randall]

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.

[MonsXI]

Same team that started vs West Ham except Gabby for Bowery I would also consider Sylla to unsettle the Arsenal centre mids.

[silhillvilla]

Someone needs to do a job on Wilshire all afternoon. Delph perhaps ?

[Marlon From Bearwood]

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.

[JUAN PABLO]

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.

[martin o`who??]

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.........

[Rancid custard]

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.

[damon loves JT]

See if you can read this 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.

[PeterWithesShin]

See if you can read this 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.

[tim]

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...

[Malandro]

pre match nerves kicked in. argh why do I let it bother me!