Aston Villa vs Arsenal PL 15/16

Team news:
Aston Villa: Bacuna (knock - doubt), Gestede (knee - doubt), Sanchez (eye - doubt), Richards (knee), Amavi (knee), Gardner (ankle)

Arsenal: Wilshere (ankle), Welbeck (knee), Rosicky (knee), Coquelin (knee), Arteta (calf), Alexis (hamstring), Cazorla (knee)


Arsène Wenger will find a familiar face in the opposition dugout at Villa Park this weekend - Remi Garde, who played for Arsenal between 1996 and 1999. Just four league games into his spell as Aston Villa manager, the Frenchman is inevitably still trying to find his best starting XI.

Villa are badly struggling - Garde has collected two points, making a total of six for the season. They’re already seven points away from survival, and have yet to win at home this season. Expect a defensive, counter-attacking performance this weekend.

Garde’s main decision is up front, where Jordan Ayew started the first three games, but Rudy Gestede was given a run-out at Southampton last weekend. They couldn’t be more different: Ayew is pure pace, while Gestede is extremely dangerous in the air, and Arsenal’s defensive line must adjust accordingly.

Ayew seems more likely to start up front, but if Gestede gets the nod then Ayew will be used on the flank in a rough 4-3-3 system. The other wide player could be Scott Sinclair, Carles Gil or Jack Grealish - although these players are given license to move inside into space between the lines.

Garde seems to like Jordan Veretout, who is given most freedom to break forward into attack, in the knowledge two of Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood and Carlos Sanchez will be holding their position in front of the defence.
The backline has suffered from injuries: in the centre, both Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott have had spells out, meaning opportunities for Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark.

At left-back, the season-ending injury suffered by the excellent Jordan Amavi has meant Kieran Richardson and Leandro Bacuna filling in - neither have looked comfortable, so Theo Walcott might get some joy down the right flank.

Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20151210/aston-villa-v-arsenal




Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20151211/aston-villa-v-arsenal



Source: http://arseblog.com/2015/12/headlines-making-headlines-arsecast-372/

srigooner wrote:Damn, thought the KO was 16:30.

Glad I checked in this morning.

You thought well, that's when the Dortmund team vs SGE gets out

Very comfortable performance, no heart attacks ffs

Wow forgettable performance in the 2nd half but maybe expected having given it all on Wednesday.

It's amazing to see the impact Theo Walcott has in the team, he will not get a goal or assist but he was one of our most important players for the win.

Defensively we were strong but also hardly troubled by the Villa players. It was mostly individual mistakes which semi-scared us.

Now our players get a well deserved rest until we play Man City. Maybe we get Alexis Sanchez back for that one, either way we really need the win if we want to stake our claim for the Premier League title. If not, I fear all the work will be undone by a home defeat against our biggest title rival.

No Alexis is a big call. He's usually our source for goal in big games. I would play him for Campbell if he is fit.