Arsenal v Aston Villa All-in-one Thread (Match #272) (Post-match #993)

[Ger Regan]

Arsenal injury crisis?
(apologies if posted previously. Also, loving the snappy headline from the mail!)

[Dave]

Arsenal injury crisis?
(apologies if posted previously. Also, loving the snappy headline from the mail!)

I like the look of that.

Although it's astonishing that they apparently have four fit midfielders and Rosicky and Wilshere aren't two of the people injured.

[Ger Regan]

Give it time.....

[Toronto Villa]

I love the fact that N'Zog aside we are almost fully fit and will have all of the options open to the manager for this first game. There's nothing to fear here chaps. Our only enemy is complacency. I am very much looking forward to seeing how the Beast goes about things against their back four. Pace and power in abundance in the Villa front line.

Licks lips

[Matt Collins]

We definitely should be thinking about how to capitalise on their weaknesses, without getting over confident. But if these players really are out we should be able to:

- break from central midfield onto the back four
- get the ball in behind more easily especially for benteke and gabby

But I still want to see us play three in the middle. I've got a feeling Lambert's optimistic nature may see him play Tonev in there

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

We definitely should be thinking about how to capitalise on their weaknesses, without getting over confident. But if these players really are out we should be able to:

- break from central midfield onto the back four
- get the ball in behind more easily especially for benteke and gabby

But I still want to see us play three in the middle. I've got a feeling Lambert's optimistic nature may see him play Tonev in there

Sylla very doubtful so Tonev in I reckon.
Lambert clearly likes his pace and willingness to shoot when he sees the goal.

[SoccerHQ]

Play three central midfielders in there and I reckon we'll do enough for a point.

Go kamikaze and play forwards and I think it will be the same result as last season.

[Dave]

Play three central midfielders in there and I reckon we'll do enough for a point.

Go kamikaze and play forwards and I think it will be the same result as last season.

Do enough for a point, but switch off and they get a late winner?

[tomd2103]

We definitely should be thinking about how to capitalise on their weaknesses, without getting over confident. But if these players really are out we should be able to:

- break from central midfield onto the back four
- get the ball in behind more easily especially for benteke and gabby

But I still want to see us play three in the middle. I've got a feeling Lambert's optimistic nature may see him play Tonev in there

Sylla very doubtful so Tonev in I reckon.
Lambert clearly likes his pace and willingness to shoot when he sees the goal.

There was a piece on him in the Evening Mail tonight saying how impressed the players have been with Tonev in pre season.  Precursor to him starting on Saturday?

[Caiphus]

Apparently Arteta is under a cloud as well, and Arsenal have a pretty poor record without him in the team.  No Carzola, Walcott and Arteta would be a dream scenario.

[supertom]

According to the game I played on Fifa yesterday:

Arsenal 1 - Aston Villa 2
Benteke with both.
We concede a goal at a set piece after Vlaar misjudges the height of the ball and misses his header allowing Robin Van Persie to sneak in and score.

You may have spotted a slight flaw on my Fifa predict-o-meter.

[Malandro]

According to the game I played on Fifa yesterday:

Arsenal 1 - Aston Villa 2
Benteke with both.
We concede a goal at a set piece after Vlaar misjudges the height of the ball and misses his header allowing Robin Van Persie to sneak in and score.

You may have spotted a slight flaw on my Fifa predict-o-meter.

yeah Vaar doesn't make those mistakes

[Clampy]

We definitely should be thinking about how to capitalise on their weaknesses, without getting over confident. But if these players really are out we should be able to:

- break from central midfield onto the back four
- get the ball in behind more easily especially for benteke and gabby

But I still want to see us play three in the middle. I've got a feeling Lambert's optimistic nature may see him play Tonev in there

Sylla very doubtful so Tonev in I reckon.
Lambert clearly likes his pace and willingness to shoot when he sees the goal.

Got to disagree, we'll need 3 midfielder's away from home. Whenever we played 4 attacking players in the same team last season, it cost us.

[stubbsyandy]

Sounds like Arteta is out!

[Villafirst]

Bit concerned that Sylla is likely to be out. I thought him, Delph and Westwood were very good at the end of last season. Sylla is great at breaking up play in the middle and he's got great energy. Hope he doesn't opt for KEA instead.....