The Premier League season is among us and Aston Villa kick off their campaign against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. These teams have endured very contrasting summers, Arsenal have endured a very frustrating summer, missing out on many key transfer targets such as Jovetic, Higuian and Rooney; as a result, Wenger has only brought in one player, Sanogo. Aston Villa, meanwhile have brought in 6 young players.
Arsenal will hope to maintain their Champions League status, however fans had hoped for a push for the Premier League title after Wenger had allegedly been given a transfer chest of over £70 million pounds. Aston Villa, will hope to improve on last season and hope for a better Premier League finish from last season.
Team News:
Arteta is out injured for roughly 6 weeks following a thigh injury. Vermaelen and Diaby are long-term injuries and will certainly not feature. Cazorla is a doubt and his fitness will be assessed before the game. Some encouraging news for Wenger is that Ramsay is fit and available after missing Wales friendly due to injury.
Aston Villa will be without Sylla who has picked up a twisted knee following a youth game. Midfielder Chris Herd is still out with a calf injury. N’Zogbia is another long-term casualty.
Match Facts:
Villa have won just two of their last 19 trips to London to face Arsenal, but both of these have come since the Gunners moved to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have not lost any of their last 12 opening Premier League games (W8 D4), though they have drawn their last three.
The Emirates Stadium saw more goals than any other stadium in the Premier League last season (70).
Possibly Lineups:
Szczesny
Jenkinson-Mertesacker-Kosielny-Gibbs
Ramsay-Wilshere
Walcott-Rosicky-Cazorla
Giroud
Agbonlahor-Benteke-Weimann
Tonev
Westwood-Delph
Luna-Baker-Vlaar-Lowton
Guzan
Predictions
Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
I think Aston Villa can snatch a draw, I think there might be a hint of frustration from the Arsenal fans, and if things don’t go well for Arsenal quickly, it will be tough. There is more optimism around Aston Villa and I think that Lambert will get his team playing more freely. Without Sylla, I think we are a bit weaker defensively, but with Tonev in the squad, I think that Lambert will have a go at Arsenal.
It will be a tight game, and Arsenal will have one eye on Wednesday that is for sure.
We can go and get a result me thinks i go 1-1 aswell 🙂
Don’t see us losing this game to be honest. Maybe 2-2 draw. Really looking forward to seeing tonev play. A 25 yard screamer would be nice!
I think 3.2 to arsenal simply because of defence still being shit and no dm. Arsenal havnt got a great defence either but still better than us and they keep possession for long periods which takes pressure of their defence. I think 2.0 to us at half time then they will predictably come back and score 3 as defence panics and we defend too deep.
I reckon Okore will play – not Baker. And I think we will score 2, just depends how many we can restrict Arsenal to. Great to have the footy back. UTV
4-2 the Villa boys, canny fookin wait for it UTV
2-2 i tink benteke nd weimann to score, lets not complain about a draw ffs loads of defences concede to the arse in the prem but not everybody can score 2 against them so draw would b a great result, lose 2 chelsea and beat liverscum and that’s a great start, optimistic, yes, but not impossible! Can’t fuckin wait UTV
Depends how it’s done if we are 2.0 up then 2.2 is 2 points dropped if we are 2 down then fair enough it’s a good point
Either way a draw is a good result weather they go 2 up or not, they will hav most the possession so our def will be under pressure 1 way or another, i know any goal conceded will be all vlars fault because you hav a 1 track mind and are blind to anywhere but the def (u must hav loved mcdraw) because if we concede it will be because the midfield couldn’t cope with the arse midfield and put our def under constant pressure, try lookin at the whole pitch ya;)
Your wasting your time KV…oohah does not understand that goals conceded are not necessarily the fault of the defence. The midfield plays a big part in most goals that are conceded. I tried explaining this to oohah many times last season but he just doesn’t get it.. I give up trying!
Takes a footballing mind to think that way, KV. Although you’re right, our midfield might be talented but it’s not strong. Don’t fear Arsenal’s midfield but going up against Chelsea’s is going to be hell.
Oohah… What bollox… 2-2 is exactly that 2-2….. So a good result no matter who scores 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th….
3-1 Villa.
i went for 3~1 villa as well b6 ,
i just think arsenal style will suit villa ~ and offer us loads of counter attacks with mertesacker shit slow we will be partying 4 sure
I agree Nath. Think they will have most of the possession but we will hurt them on the break. Think 7/1 on a Villa win is a great bet.
i put us on my accumulator and i got 7,1 from betfred
That’s a shame Nath, as we’ve just chosen Bet365 as our new partner.
I’m playing with it now.
lol sorry i just went 2 my lucky shop
Fred’s a nice bloke, so much more generous than Vic. 😉
🙂
No worries mate.
Anyone find it funny that Anzhi already sold Boussoufa to Lokomotiv?
Boudabouz just scored a penalty.
Anyways. Arsenal’s not much to fear anymore. Their midfield is still pretty weak, especially with Arteta out and they don’t have a strong midfielder our midfield should be scared of. Walcott and Cazorla are their obvious threats, especially Walcott against us with his pace and looks to be confident. I’d say our best chance is getting down their wings, Koscielny’s an amazing defender and Mertesacker has gotten to learn the EPL well and has learned how to defend even without the pace to do it with. A win would be nice, though I see us going down early to Walcott with some kind of a comeback draw/win.
im seeing goals tomorrow but sorry guys im seeing an arsenal win.
3-2 arsenal.
it could of course go all pete tong for em and see us surprise em id be well happy with a point how ever it comes.
looking forward to it though coz you never know do ya?
UTV
Sorry to piss on the bonfire bloggers but our defence is awful and midfield average 4-1 to arsenal.
Normally I’d agree but thy have a lot of injuries so its more even. Even so our defence is as porous as ever but we can still bang em in so draw looks likely. One things for sure no way will we be keeping a clean that’s for sure
My predictions last season were all completely wrong so I’m going to say Arsenal win 3-0.
Arsenal aren’t as strong as before, but they still have an excellent attack capable of taking advantage of the inevitable defensive errors that we will make. We have to stop Cazorla, he is the one player who can rip us apart.
At the other end, I fancy Benteke against Mertesacker but as always will Villa, I see the our defence costing us a result. 3-2 to Arsenal.
Agree mate defence is still as shit last year lamberts done fuck all to improve it. One thing that is 100% in this game is that no way will we keep a clean sheet
Arsenal : Villa 1:2
Even a draw would give us a big point but I hope for a surprise. Benteke could make the difference.
I’m positive The Arse will score early today, first 10 minutes or thereabouts. 4-2 to the Villa, C’MON LADS UTV!!!
No chance vlaars playing. Watching live in pub but after seeing their line up v ours I can’t c anything but an arsenal win I’m afraid
Well, you’re right. First 10 minutes, Giroud scored.
Just watching Lowton turned easily and vlaar ball watching and marking space yet again fyckin joke we will get hammered now there all over us
Luna the only new player to start. PL want to introduce them slowly and maybe a home game is a better place to give Tonev is first chance. We are more defensive minded in the middle of the park. Think this line up never appeared in one pre season game which is very interesting.
Wait… Clark on for Baker? Seriously… Clark?
Yellow card? That’s a red… Easily. Poor ref.
Oooooooo Christian Benteke ooooooooooChristian Benteke ooooooooooChristian Benteke
looks the ref isn´t against us. A lot of decisions go our way especially the penalty decision cause could have give play advantage.
Ciaran Clark! Wowl, Guzan and Luna.
This ref taking the piss booking Tony Moon FFS! Arsenal are the most over protected bunch of fucking prima donnas I’ve ever seen.
…till this decision the ref was spot on with his judgements.
Vlaars booking was a bit harsh Wiltshires reaction (or rather over reaction) got him booked.
Not too mention Sagna made that same type of tackle and got a “talking too”. Arsenal fans are actually complaining the refs favoring Villa and Villa are dangerous in injuring them. They’re idiots. The ref just likes carding Villa for nothing.
Is Benteke coming on in the second half?? 🙂
Fuckin hope so. Watching live in pub even game so far we did well to get back into it. Still can’t see us stopping arsenal scoring in the second half. Think 3.1 to them defence is as shaky and error probe as ever. No way is tony moon better than Bennett about the same. I’m not the only one in the pub saying that either. Vlaar is a fuckin liability as always part responsible for goal and got a needless yellow for diving in. Overal so far so good lets hope we can get a draw
…Benteke could give a little bit more but he is dangerous in what ever he is doing. Wins a lot in the air and supplies flick ons.
guzan needs to check his distribution, he keeps banging it straight back too em looking for the counter attack, needs to pick his passes better and know when to hold up for a minute.
aresnal are worried though bit of flapping by szcesney there, I certainly wouldn’t bet on either team scoring at least one more.
*bet against*
If that’s a penalty, that’s another red that the ref screwed up on, as per usual.
However not sure that’s a penalty at all.
Just hope we hold on now