EPL: Aston Villa FC vs Arsenal FC - Sun. Dec. 13th, 1:30pm - SS1

[Tir Na Nog]

Resting Özil would be beyond stupid, don't want to give Villa any hope just by looking at the team sheet.

We should win, I hope we can get ourselves pumped up again quickly after all that happened last night.

 

[GunnerBP]

Yeah, Özil definitely needs to start this match. But what he doesn't need to do is practice this week. We need to be resting Özil and working on his calf as much as possible until Sunday.

During the match he will have Ramsey along side him in the midfield and his mobility will mean that Özil won't have to run as much. He can just make pinpoint passes. If we have the game under control by the 60th minute we should take him off and bring on Chambers and have a midfield of Ramsey, Chambers and Flamini.

I might not start Theo for this one. He doesn't look sharp or effective right now when he's playing on the wing.

Lineup:

Cech
Bellerin - Merts - Kos - Monreal
Flamini - Ramsey
Campbell - Özil - Ox
Giroud

 

[Penn_]

Where's Özil being injured coming from?

 

[GunnerBP]

Where's Özil being injured coming from?

There were rumors that he might miss the Olympiacos match with a "tight calf."

So it looks like he played through the injury and no one wants to exacerbate it by overplaying him against Villa and force him to miss the Man City match.

 

[Penn_]

There were rumors that he might miss the Olympiacos match with a "tight calf."

So it looks like he played through the injury and no one wants to exacerbate it by overplaying him against Villa and force him to miss the Man City match.

Oh is that it, thought there might of been more news post match.

He's probably fine, the match was wrapped up at 3-0 and we kept him on.

 

[GunnerBP]

Oh is that it, thought there might of been more news post match.

He's probably fine, the match was wrapped up at 3-0 and we kept him on.

Yeah, nothing crazy. Not making him practice and just resting him for a couple of days should do the trick.

 

[RUS arsenal]

Probably won't have any problems UNLESS somebody gets injured during the game, then who knows what can happen.

 

[em9999]

Get to the window in top three, sign two players who add depth

We win the league this season, I'm sure of it

 

[GoonerJeeves]

Problem is there are usually **** all available players in january.

 

[Jazz]

Get to the window in top three, sign two players who add depth

We win the league this season, I'm sure of it

No. We must remain 1st or very close 2nd. Knowing Wenger we'll be buying f all, bet on it. Unless all the players for a certain position are out long term of course.

On the Özil front, as long as he's deemed fit only bring him off if we go 2 up. We are in no positon to be underestimating teams at the minute. That has been a major issue this season.

 

[Rimaal]

Oh is that it, thought there might of been more news post match.

He's probably fine, the match was wrapped up at 3-0 and we kept him on.

You could tell by the way he moved in Greece that something was holding him back. He wasn't fully fit, imo.

 

[em9999]

Problem is there are usually **** all available players in january.

Nolito and moutinho

We could obtain both

 

[Stevo the Villan]

Villa likely lineup

(drum roll please)


-----------------Guzan

Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna

----------------Sanchez
-------------Gana, Veretout

Ayew-------------------------Sinclair
----------------Gestede



Richards is injured. Big blow for us as he's probably the only one of our defenders who can walk in a straight line without falling on their arse.

Sanchez is playing well defensively, but he usually follows up a brilliant tackle with a 2 yard pass to the opposition's centre forward, so you'll be ok there.

Richardson appears to have finally been dropped form left back after proving that he's about as much use as a small shrub planted in the left back position.

Grealish might feature. he's back in the squad but I'd say he's unlikely to start.

Adama Traore will also come on at some point. He's going to be a superstar, and at some point he's going to explode into action and everybody will sit up and realise he's amazing. But he's a long way from that, in my opinion, at the moment. So I doubt we'll see much quality from him in this game. If, by some miracle, it does happen though, he could cause problems. He operates in a series of small explosions that occur too quickly for my mind to comprehend.

Ayew is probably our best player at the moment. But he gets little service.

Gestede is terrible. He can head a ball incredibly well, but we don't ever cross the ball, so he's basically a chocolate teapot.

Have fun!

 

[ArsenesNO1Fan]

Villa likely lineup

(drum roll please)


-----------------Guzan

Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna

----------------Sanchez
-------------Gana, Veretout

Ayew-------------------------Sinclair
----------------Gestede



Richards is injured. Big blow for us as he's probably the only one of our defenders who can walk in a straight line without falling on their arse.

Sanchez is playing well defensively, but he usually follows up a brilliant tackle with a 2 yard pass to the opposition's centre forward, so you'll be ok there.

Richardson appears to have finally been dropped form left back after proving that he's about as much use as a small shrub planted in the left back position.

Grealish might feature. he's back in the squad but I'd say he's unlikely to start.

Adama Traore will also come on at some point. He's going to be a superstar, and at some point he's going to explode into action and everybody will sit up and realise he's amazing. But he's a long way from that, in my opinion, at the moment. So I doubt we'll see much quality from him in this game. If, by some miracle, it does happen though, he could cause problems. He operates in a series of small explosions that occur too quickly for my mind to comprehend.

Ayew is probably our best player at the moment. But he gets little service.

Gestede is terrible. He can head a ball incredibly well, but we don't ever cross the ball, so he's basically a chocolate teapot.

Have fun!

No Amavi or Gueye?

 

[Stevo the Villan]

No Amavi or Gueye?

Amavi tore his knee ligaments playing for France U21s last month. he's out for the season.

Gana = Gueye

 

[redanddread]

Another opportunity to go top of the league-surely we can't blow it for a 4th time in a row!!

 

[SuperGoon]

Everybody knows 4th is our lucky number.

 

[Tourbillion]

Who the **** are most of those Villa players.

 

[say yes]

Would be a tragedy if we didn't beat this Villa side, they're dire.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Villa likely lineup

(drum roll please)


-----------------Guzan

Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna

----------------Sanchez
-------------Gana, Veretout

Ayew-------------------------Sinclair
----------------Gestede

Believe it or not, I reckon Okore and Lescott could prove to be your best partnership. I like Richards, he's a real presence and a threat in the opposition box. But my God, he's capable of braindead moments and his defensive positioning is poor. You guys have conceded loads of goals this season with Micah at fault, but because he's a character and tries to lead he gets excused.

Okore still has the potential to be a fantastic CB and I've always been a Lescott fan since his days at Wolves. Like I said, Richards is a great physical presence but it's no wonder why the majority of his career he's been utilised as a RB. He lacks the intelligence that would make him a dependable CB.