Aston Villa vs Arsenal Last Minute Preview

After depressing losses against Spurs and Braga in the past week, it's time for Arsenal to set things right. We lost Cesc and Eboue in the midweek game against Braga but the rest of the squad is okay, though we're missing Vermaelen a bit.

We also might come up against Robert Pires who has recently joined the Villains on a free signing. Though Aston Villa have even bigger injury problems than us right now, the Arsenal players MUST ensure we do not take them lightly, not even if we take a 2 goal lead at halftime. Determination and creativity must work hand in hand. If we can do that, we can even top the table despite all the gloom and doom, even if for a short while.

Team news:

Aston Villa(4-4-1-1): Friedel, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Pires, Bannan, Clark, Downing, Young, Carew

Substitutes: Ireland, Delfouneso, Guzan, Beye, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd

Manager: Gerard Houllier

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Formation view:

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                                                  Friedel

L. Young                   Dunne                              Collins                  Warnock

Downing                Clark                              Bannan                  Pires
                                                  A. Young

                                                   Carew

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Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky, Nasri, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Chamakh

Substitutes: Szezesny, Djourou, Gibbs, Van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Bendtner

Manager: Arsene Wenger

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Formation view:

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                                                       Fabianski

Sagna                       Koscielny                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Nasri                                         Rosicky                                        Arshavin

                                                      Chamakh

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Tactics:

Goalkeeping/Defence: Aston Villa will look to reach their target man Carew from long balls and set pieces. The centre backs should mark him tightly. Stewart Downing has been scoring important goals and his runs should be checked properly.

Midfield: Our midfield should dominate today. Its the intelligence we have lacked in the recent defeats. When to attack, when to defend, when to increase the tempo. We have lacked that spark in all the games we lost. Hope Nasri and Arshavin can fire today.

Attack: Hope my "wish" is granted again today and Chamakh does not dither from taking his chances.

Subs: I'd bring on Walcott, van Persie and Denilson

Final Prediction:

Looks like we might grind out a 1-2 win today.