Aston Villa vs Arsenal pre match thread

[Smirker]

Saturday, kick off 12:30pm.

Let's forget about the weekend and look forward to this.

Onwards and upwards 

FTF.

[Brazilian Villain]

Think we'll get a positive result. Whether that's a draw or a win may well depend on what happens on Wednesday night.

[Toronto Villa]

Bloody amateur. Where’s the poll?

[Sexual Ealing]

A meeting between the two most 'Villa' (i.e. defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory merchants) teams in the league. The ones who aren't Villa will win.

[adrenachrome]

What is our record in these early fixtures at our place?

From my failing memory, the atmosphere is usually subdued.  The drinking section of the support, which I estimate to be much higher than most people realise, is hung over and needing a pint or three. The cokeheads will be fine, but they can't carry a song and often break down in mid chant.

With 110% effort from the players and 70% from the support, I am sure we can get a result.

It is what it is, and we have to deal.

Mings should be back, so there is that.  We don't need that Chambers groove thang.

[eamonn]

The corresponding game last season, also an early Saturday kick-off (as was the fixture two seasons ago, early Watkins winner) was awful. We didn't lay a glove on Arsenal who sat on their 1-0 lead. We mustered a Coutinho shot right at the end. Not dissimilar to Citeh on Sunday.

I'm expecting a much-improved performance and result. Otherwise Emery has the same record after 10 as Gerrard had, albeit with tougher games but c'mon, Unai is far smarter than that Scouse bonehead, so it's time to start showing it again. 3-0 Villa.

[Axl Rose]

They'll be far too good for us.

They'll get away with murder.

Arteta will look more and more like a Thunderbird as the match progresses.

[ROBBO]

If Mings plays we win, not usually this confident but we will bounce back.

[Nev]

I have a rather positive feeling about this but I don't really know why. As things stand they should come away with the the points but, and I say this with a good deal of hope, they have hit a flat spot and the Manager cuts a rather frustrated figure lately. We should capitalise on that but whether we do or not remains to be seen. There is no getting away from it, we have a rather thin squad so we will need our best players, playing to the best of their ability.

2-2

[Allan C]

I’m thinking 2-2  I think we’ll get something from the game but I hope we don’t persist with Bailey and give Duran a go.

[manic-road]

Arsenal have a tough game midweek against Man City so hoping they pick up key injuries for the weekend, I think we could nick this as Arsenals performances haven't been as good as late.

[wince]

Arsenal have a tough game midweek against Man City so hoping they pick up key injuries for the weekend, I think we could nick this as Arsenals performances haven't been as good as late.

But they do play the friendly villa points fairy so not got much hope

[ChicagoLion]

If we  can we get a team on the pitch without Ramsey and Bailey and Mings  doesn’t drop a clanger, you never know but I suspect an Arse win.

[Risso]

I think this will be another battering that we'll have to put down to experience and move on from. Our defence and organisation has gone right to pot and the Arse will have too much movement and pace for us. 3 or 4 for them, 1 for us.

[Bobby Boy]

It depends what attitude we take. If our midfield stands off and let's them play which I expect and fear then we'll lose.

If we get about them as Everton did then who knows?

0-2