Arsenal v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Villafirst]

Very little recovery time after Chelsea. Can someone explain why 6 matches take place in the PL on Tuesday 30th and 4 take place on Thursday 1st January? Surely that's unfair with so little recovery time after Saturday"s games - especially for Man City who get 2 extra days rest??

[Brend'Watkins]

If Torres or Mings are available, I wonder if he shifts Lindelof to RCB and moves Konsa to RB? UTV

If Torres and/or Mings were particularly close to being available we would have seen them in training by now, I assume.

It would be great to have either or both back but I’m of the opinion that the way Lindeloff is playing it’s not the end of the world they’re having a rest.

[bilsim]

It's a minor annoyance that Arsenal have such a speedy opportunity to make amends after our glorious last gasp winner, and also frustrating that this time we'll be the side with key players missing.

The thing is though, this feels like complete free hit, because consecutive wins against Utd and Chavski have solidified our place in the top 3.

I can't for the life of me see us getting a win, but I've said that before during this run and I've been repeatedly dumbfounded by Unai's ability to manipulate circumstances in our favour.

I think the best thing is that regardless of the result, we are nailed on for a Champions League place and I fully expect us to be marching round the Bullring with A cup, not sure which shape yet, come May.

[Dave]

It's a minor annoyance that Arsenal have such a speedy opportunity to make amends after our glorious last gasp winner, and also frustrating that this time we'll be the side with key players missing.

The thing is though, this feels like complete free hit, because consecutive wins against Utd and Chavski have solidified our place in the top 3.

Yup. The points from us to fifth and Champions League qualification, is the same as fifth to sixteenth.

The aim should be to completely sew up top five by April so our minds can be fully on the Europa / FA Cup double in May.

[LeeB]

It's a minor annoyance that Arsenal have such a speedy opportunity to make amends after our glorious last gasp winner, and also frustrating that this time we'll be the side with key players missing.

The thing is though, this feels like complete free hit, because consecutive wins against Utd and Chavski have solidified our place in the top 3.

Yup. The points from us to fifth and Champions League qualification, is the same as fifth to sixteenth.

The aim should be to completely sew up top five by April so our minds can be fully on the Europa FA Cup double in May.

Absolutely this.

[Sexual Ealing]

They've been hurting our title charges for 4 seasons now and I'm sick of it. They need a proper humbling

I know we sometimes used to play like it was our job to help the bigger boys get nice things, but no longer, you fucking twats.

[UK Redsox]

Emi 1

Bogie
Lindy
Ezri
Maat

Onana
SJM

Sancho
YT
Morgs

Ollie


I’d prefer SHM to YT as the BooBoo stand-in

Ideally it would be Bogarde, but I expect him rather than Garcia to play RB

[cdbearsfan]

Even when we were utter shit we used to quite often go to Arsenal and win. Though they did win about seventy in a row at Villa Park.

[cdbearsfan]

I would start Digne against these. Need Maatsen fully fit for Forest as he will destroy their right back, who would struggle to beat me in a race.

[Sexual Ealing]

Also, did they ever stop to think what they've been doing to *our* title challenges over the last forty years?

[Mister E]

Quite relaxed about this one, not because we will win just it won’t break us if we lose. Pau being available would be great though

Yup.
I don't think Emery will risk any inexperience: Bogarde at right-back, Youri and Onana in the double pivot and Watkins / Rogers / McGinn / Buendia ahead. Sancho and Malen will come on in the second half. Injuries may force a Garcia introduction at some point, but any midfield injury will - I think - be covered by bringing on Digne.