Aston Villa v Arsenal Wedensday 21st December 19.45

[Cripps_orig]

Aston Villa were well beaten in their last game against Liverpool but should be able to welcome back Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent as they look to end a poor in spell in front of goal that has yielded just two goals in their last five Premier League games.

Injury-hit Arsenal are short of defenders with Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos all sidelined, so youngster Ignasi Miguel will be expected to play after featuring against Manchester City. Alex Song is unavailable as he is serving a suspension for picking up five bookings.






DID YOU KNOW?

•The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-1 win for the away side at Emirates Stadium.
•Aston Villa have had 71 shots on target in the league this season, the fewest of all Premier League teams.
•Before Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City in their last game, they had gone eight matches unbeaten, with seven of them being victories.
•Robin van Persie has scored 33 goals in his last 33 games in the Premier League in 2011.
•This fixture has never seen a red card since the Premier League began.
•In the last 10 meetings between the sides, Aston Villa have only won once, though that was at the Emirates.
•In the history of meetings between the sides, Abou Diaby (pictured right) is the top scoring current player with four goals – though he is some way behind Thierry Henry who has scored 10.
•In all meetings between the two sides in the Premier League there have been 92 goals – with Arsenal scoring 61 of them.
•Aston Villa have scored just twice in their last five games whilst Arsenal have only conceded three in their last five.

Diaby

[fakeyank]

Till our FB's come back alive, I'd like to see us tinker with our back 4 a little. Have Coq in the middle with Arteta and Ramsey. At the back, I'd like to see..

Song---Per---Kos---Vermaelen

This'd look better than having DJ on the field. While Miquel looks pretty good, I'd like to have him sheilded a bit.

Btw, when is Sagna back?

[Marc Overmars]

Song at RB?

He's one of the top CM's in the league, keep him where he is.

[server too busy!]

Till our FB's come back alive, I'd like to see us tinker with our back 4 a little. Have Coq in the middle with Arteta and Ramsey. At the back, I'd like to see..

Song---Per---Kos---Vermaelen

This'd look better than having DJ on the field. While Miquel looks pretty good, I'd like to have him sheilded a bit.

Btw, when is Sagna back?

I'm pretty sure Song is banned for this game.

[fakeyank]

I'm pretty sure Song is banned for this game.

Yes, he is. I am just saying in general, for the games till our FB's come back. This game will help us determine how we work with Coq or Ping Pong in the middle.

[Master Splinter]

I recall Song playing at RB once before.

It did not turn out well.

In fact, you could say it was more disastrous than MO's face.

[Kaiser]

Coquelin at RB instead of Miquel at LB, so Koscielny goes back into the middle alongside Per and Vermaelen at LB? Frimpong in the middle then alongside Rosicky and Arteta (give Rambo a rest). AOC/Benayoun, Gervinho to support Park (RVP on bench)?

[Dennis Bendtner]

Squillaci.

Don't really see why Miquel shouldn't play right-back. Did alright against Adam Johnson on the other side. Unless he's left-footed?

Miquel--Mertesacker--Koscielny--Vermaelen

Should be ok. The multiple changes elsewhere will probably be saved for the home games. RVP can shit on Villa and have the day off against QPR. Or come on and bail us out in the second half, more likely.

[Cripps_orig]

Il probably go to the QPR game so RVP better not be rested for that.

Rest him for this if he needs to be rested at all

[Rors]

"Zat Knight's there!" -ish