Arsenal Vs Aston Villa
Emirates Stadium
Sunday 29th January
16:00 BST Kick Off
Referee: Michael Jones


Where is the Season going ?

The mood before the Fulham game was really good, We all thought top 4 is attainable and what can go wrong ? But ofcoarse it can't really go that well for an Arsenal fan can it ? Arsenal Suffered a defeat in poor curcimstances, then suffered defeat again few days later, and finally the defeat against Man utd last week. Past 3 weeks have raised plenty of questions, but very little answers. Blame was put upon the players, the manager and the board. But as a fan, the question must have crept in your head, where is the season going ? On one hand we are in the CL, the FA cup and maybe still have a chance of getting into the Top 4, while on the other hand, the poor performances suggest that none of them can be possible in this season.

Arsenal host Aston Villa for the 4th round of the FA Cup, and it will be interested to see; first of all the team selection, and secondly the reaction not only from the team but the fans. Coming towards Aston Villa, They are a weird team. At times they look lethargic, boring, defensive and basically crap, but on the other occasions, like against Wolves, they were attacking and with Robbie keane, very dangerous going forward. However they were playing against 10 Men.

Losing 4 times in a row WILL be a crisis, A club like Arsenal shouldnt be losing 3 in a row nevermind 4. The players know that, and so does Wenger. That is why i think we will see a solid performance from Arsenal, with injured players coming back, it will be much better then it was in the past games.

Team News

Bacary Sagna Will go through a fitness test, Coquelin is back. Henry and Mikel Arteta also face examinations ahead of the game but, on Friday, Wenger seemed genuinely hopeful of their return. In addition, left-back Kieran Gibbs is set to return to training on Monday.


Not much to say about Aston villa, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and Stephen Ireland are all also available for selection, however Nzogbia wont be fit enough to play, which is a good news as he always turn up against us in great form.


Teams

This is the team i would go with

Arsenal

--------------------------------------Szczesny------------------------------------

Yennaris--------------Vermaelen---------------Koscielny------------------Coquelin--

--------------------------------------Song-----------------------------------------

-------------------Arteta--------------------------Ramsey*-------------------------

Walcott---------------------Van persie*-----------------------------Oxlade

* Wont be surprised if Rosicky start
* With Bolton away on wednesday, Maybe worth a try to start henry ?


Aston Villa

----------------------------------------Given------------------------------------------

Hutton-------------Dunne-----------------------Collins-----------------Clarke


Albrighton----------------Petrov------------Gardner-------------------Agbonlahor

--------------------------------keane---------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------Bent--------------------------------------


Match Facts ( BBC, Arsenal.com)


Head-to-head

• These clubs have met 182 times; Arsenal have won 73, Aston Villa 65, with 44 drawn.

• Villa have already lost 2-1 to Arsenal in the Premier
League at Villa Park this term, but won last season's trip to the
Emirates Stadium 2-1.

• This is the 10th time these clubs have been drawn to meet
in the FA Cup; Arsenal lead by six wins to three, with the most recent
in the 1983 quarter-finals.

Arsenal

• Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup
history, having won the competition 10 times (one fewer than Manchester
United), and been runners-up on seven occasions. In the six seasons
since winning the cup in 2006, they have failed to make the fifth round
twice.

• Arsene Wenger's side have lost their two FA Cup ties
against top-flight clubs, and three of the last four - all away from
home.

• The Gunners have won their last three ties in front of the
home supporters, and have not lost in 32, since a 1-0 reverse to Leeds
in the fourth round in February 1997.

Aston Villa

• Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs are the only clubs to
have won the FA Cup more times than Aston Villa's seven, but the most
recent of those was in 1957.

• Villa are looking for a spot in the last 16 for the fourth season running.

• Alex McLeish's team are seeking a seventh successive away game without defeat in league and cup.

• Sunday's meeting is the first FA Cup tie between Arsenal and Aston Villa in 29 years
  
• If Vermaelen plays on Sunday, it will be only his second ever appearance in the FA Cup
  
• Arsène Wenger's record in the FA Cup Fourth Round - P18 W11 D3 L4
  
• Arsenal have not lost an FA Cup tie at home since February 1997
  
• Aston Villa have taken eight points from their Premier League visits to Emirates.
  

Final Words

FA Cup should be one of our genuine target for this season. Needless to say that Failure will be really really bad for everyone related to Arsenal. We must win this and progress to the 5th round, However A draw would be equally bad as it will bring on an extra fixture which could be heavy on our injury hit team.


I will go for a 3-1 win

the return of RG

Thank God that diving bleep is injured
Agbonlahor vs Yennaris would be interesting
and should we mention their weakness on set piece again?

did you forget Park yet again ( )
as MJ said i also want Arshavin to start behind the striker just like that cc game vs bolton and last Season at villa park it worked(though they swapped positions with Rosa i know)
is coq fit enough to start? great then
and Bring the king in 2nd half

I would love to see Chamberlain playing centrally instead of Ramsey while Arshavin or Henry on the LW.

Great preview RG.

I have a feeling we will crush Vila, the players are angry and hungry and Villa will be their victim.

Arshivan. Henry and RVP to score goals.

Wenger on chances he might rest players against Aston Villa: "I haven't made a decision yet, but I don't think so."

Wenger: "Fabianski played well for the reserves on Tuesday, and I have to decide if I will play him or not."

as much as i like fabianksi, i hope szczesny starts.

But knowing wenger, Fabianksi will start.

Fabianksi where where accidents happen.

If Fabianski starts and he make a bad error omg, Wenger will be crucified by the fans.

Lol

Fabianski hated again.

Samuelj29060 wrote:Lol

Fabianski hated again.

Is not that I hate him, I just dont want him to start.

Wenger – The fans weren’t booing Arshavin and I love him!


Arshavin will start?

I LOVE ATTACKING PLAYERS WHO HAVE NO INFLUENCE!!!

hey RG u da KiNg ,great preview man.....wowww

• Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup
history

does it means ! well like my sig says LOL

What time is the game? I'm 4 hours later then England

^8pm your time, Ali.

Please Arsene give Ryo game time

Ade wrote:Please Arsene give Ryo game time

he won't sadly

Preetham @EuroFC Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
811 - Arsenal and Aston Villa have 811 #FACup games between them. Only the #AFC-#MUFC fixture has more (816). @ArsenalPortal @FourFourTom

RedEyesWhiteBeard wrote:

Ade wrote:Please Arsene give Ryo game time

he has gone on loan to bolton

Thats great news if its true