Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Possible squad, injuries, Wenger's shortcomings. Discuss.

Any win would do. Hopefully if the Ox's injury isn't real or is real and heals, he plays. I don't want to put too much pressure on the lad, but I just can't wait to see him again. As Jenson said in the other thread, he is like a breath of fresh air. For so long we've been dealing with frustrating wingers each with his own problem. Of course, I understand he's young with no experience at the top level, so if he has a bad game, I won't complain.

Oh, and I hope to see the King as well and a return to Arteta would be welcome.

BBC are reporting henry amd arteta should both be fit after seeing off hamstring injuries..

Arteta is quoted as saying 'count me in'

Just wish AA would say 'I am fucking off'.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Arsenal-players-hold-dressing-room-inquest-after-Manchester-United-loss-is-blamed-on-Andrey-Arshavin-article856852.html

says sagna and gibbs are both training and may try for villa.

Since it is an FA Cup match and Villa not being the best team around I think we can afford to rest a few players. Think we should go with the same squad that played Utd except Miquel for Vermaelen, Banayoun for Rosicky and Henry/Park for RVP.
Hopefully it will be an easy game, we have an away trip to Bolton two days later and can't afford to drop any more points because of tired feet.

Sami Rockfeller wrote:Since it is an FA Cup match and Villa not being the best team around I think we can afford to rest a few players. Think we should go with the same squad that played Utd except Miquel for Vermaelen, Banayoun for Rosicky and Henry/Park for RVP.
Hopefully it will be an easy game, we have an away trip to Bolton two days later and can't afford to drop any more points because of tired feet.

Honstly if was Wenger I would not fuck about and play a second string team....a win is need big time,get dumped out of this and people will be going bonkers...a 4th straight defeat would not go down well for the team...and another cup gone for another year...
can you honstly see us winning the league or champions league.....

I for one know this is the best shot we have at a trophy so does everybody else..
Fuck this up and he is good as shafted...

It's probably just because of our form but I have a horrible feeling about this match. Villa have been better away than at home and whilst they have been erratic, they've hit something approaching form lately.

If we have key players back, I think we'll win. If not... Hmm.

If it wasn't for the fact that it'd be 4 losses in a row I wouldn't be devastated if we went out, top four is the only thing I'm hoping for this season.
I can't imagine AA will be anywhere near this match, but if The Ox starts it undermines Wenger's 'he was injured' line...
Park, Benayoun and The Ox upfront?

Christopher Flanagan wrote:It's probably just because of our form but I have a horrible feeling about this match. Villa have been better away than at home and whilst they have been erratic, they've hit something approaching form lately.

If we have key players back, I think we'll win. If not... Hmm.

I was talking to one of the guys at work this evening,
His answer to how will we fare against villa.....'I had a tenner on a villa win'

That comes from a manc....who to be fair is usually right on his results regarding betting the fucker

szcz

yennaris - per/kos/tv (depending on who is fresher) - miquel

rosicky- song - arteta

ox - park - ben

I think we should edge it.. 2-0 park and ox

A win would be nice.

It'd be more than nice, it's imperative.

I of course meant in opposition to our last three league performances.

This will be a tough game. Villa will park a few buses and hope to hit us on the break. We won't win this one; our form is shit, and Villa know it. They'll try to win it with some late Robbie Keane goal (*shudder*), but if not, they'll be perfectly happy to have a replay at Villa Park.

This will not be easy, no sir.

And the team needs to be full strength, the Emirates faithful will hardly tolerate ANOTHER loss.

Why are people rotating out our players when they have had an entire week off? Why in the blue hell would we start Park in the FA Cup at Villa!? Mental!

Jenks1981 wrote:Why are people rotating out our players when they have had an entire week off? Why in the blue hell would we start Park in the FA Cup at Villa!? Mental!

That's what I was saying jenks...complete madness to be swapping about the team...it has to be 100% the strongest we can field..
Tell you one thing about this match...lose...and I for one will be fucked off big time...

The only players I would rotate are those badly in need of a rest, Ramsey would fit in to that bracket for me possibly.

The big decisions fall as to where to put our players coming back from injury, from reading this potentially Sagna, Gibbs, Arteta and Henry all returning from injuries, bench or starting lineup will be important decisions.

Michael Foster wrote:

Jenks1981 wrote:Why are people rotating out our players when they have had an entire week off? Why in the blue hell would we start Park in the FA Cup at Villa!? Mental!

That's what I was saying jenks...complete madness to be swapping about the team...it has to be 100% the strongest we can field..
Tell you one thing about this match...lose...and I for one will be fucked off big time...

Disagree. We play Bolton away 3 days later. Getting to 4th is crucial. If we try and play our strongest 11 players in both games, they will suffer at Bolton.

I would love a chance for an FA Cup trophy though.

The damage that a defeat in the FA Cup, at home, could do could be disastrous. There's no such thing as a silver lining defeat after you've just lost 3 league games in a row and are closer in the table to Stoke and Norwich than Tottenham.

We have to go as strong as we can and look to make changes during the game. We don't exactly have the best of back up players. Maybe rotate a couple out because of form (Ramsey, Walcott), but players like RVP, the CB's, Song etc all must start.

Jenks1981 wrote:The only players I would rotate are those badly in need of a rest, Ramsey would fit in to that bracket for me possibly.

The big decisions fall as to where to put our players coming back from injury, from reading this potentially Sagna, Gibbs, Arteta and Henry all returning from injuries, bench or starting lineup will be important decisions.

Granted...Ramsey could do with a break,I would be tempted to throw the the whole lot back in if fit or at least sagna and arteta

I'd be inclined to start Rosicky or Yossi (doubtful) over Ramsey. He's out of form and probably could also do with a rest. This is based on Arteta being back for this match.

I'd say drop Walcott too. Villa are going to sit deep and defend in numbers, limiting amount of space theo will have to run into and cause problems. Instead they'll look to crowd him out and thus nullifying his key strength. Would Arsene start Yossi on the left so that the Ox can play on the right? He seems reluctant to play Yossi.

Defo drop walcott I think ox needs to play this one...see if he can keep a part of form going,he had a blinding game against united..would live to see him out there tearing villa apart..
Arteta should also get the nod over Ramsey...the kid is averaging an amazing amount of distances covered,he could do with it a rest that is....also looking at the last few games I think rosicky should start also another who had a good game game against united and would like to see carry it over...

I did say we must go full strength, but I would accept that Walcott and Ramsey could do with a rest. I think they're both tired, leading to their poor form. So it would be best for the team. If Arteta is fit then Rosicky could come in. Ox could fill for Walcott, until the 75 minute he gets cramps/whatever Wenger decides to bring him off for. Arshavin ought to start, and Henry can play versus Bolton 3 days later.

If Sagna is fit, play him immediately. He'll be fine. Gibbs I worry about a bit more because he's fragile. If Sagna is unfit, then Yennaris over Djourou any day. Although I will say I still believe both goals VS Utd were to a large extent Vermaelen's fault. So:

Chesney
Sagna/Yennaris - Mert - Kos - Vermicide
Song - Arteta - Rosicky
Ox - RVP - Arshavin


Also, Arshavin needs to start. Put that booing debacle behind him pronto.