Courtesy of Avillafan.com
This one has to be a whupping doesn’t it?
Yet you never know when it comes to football and anything can happen. Who would have put money on Bournemouth beating Man Utd last night, for instance?
Today we have the bonus that Arsenal have quite a few injuries and while they had a very good win against Olympiacos on Wednesday, perhaps this might have jaded them somewhat?
Unfortunately, I don’t think so.
This is a side that have qualified for the Champions League knockouts for 16 consecutive years remember and they’re never really going to be weakened enough for us.
In squad news, Arsenal have Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky all out, which is the best part of a very good side.
As for Villa, we have Bacuna and Gestede available after taking knocks against Southampton, but Micah Richards is still doubtful. Otherwise, we’re in a pretty good state.
The big story of course, is that young Jack Grealish is back in the squad.
Will he get a game?
I reckon he’ll probably start, as Arsenal are a pretty cultured side and the sort of team that he might be suited to playing against. I’d rather see Gil as the flair player over Grealish, as I believe he’s performed better this season, but what do I know?
I’ve just heard Sam Allardyce complaining how Sunderland created loads of chances against Arsenal, but got nothing, so it maybe proves that Arsenal aren’t unbeatable, but our problem is we don’t create that many chances do we?
Aaron Ramsey has re-assumed his central midfield role and has apparently been playing very well. He’s always going to cause us trouble and who can forget how Arsenal have often targeted our left back? Given our troubles in that department, you’d expect to see the same again.
As I said above, you just never know in football and perhaps we might get something from this one.
But unless our defence have a blinder, I really can’t see it happening.
I think Arsenal will tear us to shreds.
Mind you, I predicted Southampton would beat us comfortably last week, but they didn’t.
Unfortunately, while teams around us are pulling off unexpected wins, a draw, as much as it would normally be a decent result against one of the top clubs, just isn’t good enough and we need wins.
Will we get one today? No chance.
A draw at best, but I’m going to go for a 3-1 loss.
[polldaddy poll=9229254]
Not a hope in hell today, imo.
0-5 gooners & that’s being generous to us as its Christmas.
3 votes gone on and 100% lose, sad sad times lads to know the games up before you kick a ball, I think that twat of a Yank is now hides from us and won’t venture over here now, God I wish for a miracle but their ain’t a God is there.
I just realised I put the wrong pic up.
That’s what 14 hour shifts do for you.
I’ve changed it.
How long have you been working at Sports Direct Badger?
I thinkbit was Hitchens that’s like aid we’re ten points adrift yesterday. It took me a while to work that out, but with our GD, we’d need to better the teams above on 14 points. Chelsea are above on 15 who we can discount as relegation contenders. So we’d have to match Bournemouths 16 points to get out of the bottom three…I think! Ten points. That’s ten points guys. Four victories whilst everyone above us gets zero points. Sunderland were unlucky not to get points from the last two games.
If we get pasted today, that’s almost another point down. Bloody hell. It really has not sunk in yet although it’s virtually impossible for us to stay up.
I wonder if Lerner’s accountants have woken up to this yet?
The first line should have read “I think it was Hitch who said yesterday…”
‘Twas me Bum Bum – sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings at this merry time of the year! Ho, ho, ho 🙂
Actually Bum Bum if we had a run of three wins and all others above lost then it our GD would improve relatively and it should be enough – but hey what’s one point between friends!
Apparently, we’ve offered Cashley a 6 month deal, with an extension if we stay up.
Interesting;
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/12/13/italian-press-claim-aston-villa-have-offered-contract-to-left-ba/page/1/
If true, it at least shows some commercial thinking and I would take him over Cissoko (sp) but would he come? – and that’s assuming there aren’t other more attractive offers on the table.
…and Norwich could have snatched all three points as well…
Is this the team? Predicted XI: Guzan; Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Bacuna; Veretout, Sanchez, Gueye; Ayew, Gestede, Sinclair.
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/13/aston-villa-v-arsenal-premier-league-team-news-injury-news-team-line-ups-and-tv-times-5557495/#ixzz3uCL20qhD it seems Richards not fit.
Arsenal must be shaking in their boots at that line up. Our only hope is they think we are so easy they fail to turn up!
I have to agree Hitch, that’s the poorest Villa side I’ve seen on paper for as long as I can remember 🙁
Nail in the coffin today I’m affraid, we will get battered around 6-0 to Arsenal, and what’s even worse we are not going to recover from the years of bad ownership, Ive said it before on here, its not just the owners its the playes which have to take responsibility, they chose to come to a big club they should perform at top of their game always……
Totally agree VTID , a disaster from the off, new owner new ideas, a Yank thinking he knows best, will be a long road back to the good days for us I’m afraid. It stands to reason anyone with common sense wouldn’t touch us with a barge pole with him at the helm.
I really think we have a chance today…
..a snowball’s chance in hell.
My brother is still a season ticket holder and seems quite pleased that he has a cold so he has an excuse to give this one a miss. It’s on Sky today and I’m so optimistic that I’m going to visit my mother in law rather than watch the game on TV.
That’s how bad we’ve become.
Prediction – Arsenal will score 3 in the first 25 minutes and, through a combination of being knackered after Europe and feeling sorry for us, they’ll leave it at that and stroll through the rest of the game. Cech will have two saves to make and one of those will be a bad back pass from one if his own players.
Rudi starting
No gabby even on bench
No ilor 5months to get fit what the fuck
Hutton bacuna full backs we no chance
Can’t believe it 15% of the poll think we can win! Might watch it on the telly here with a very large rum even though it’s only 9am!
@H60
From behind the sofa no doubt 🙂
WOW 6 minutes gone and we’re still drawing
It took Arsenal 8 minutes to score. Villa are doing better than I thought then 🙁
Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna; Gana, Veretout, Sanchez, Sinclair; Ayew, Gestede.
Subs: Bunn, Clark, Westwood, Traore, Gil, Lyden, Grealish.
Jordan Lyden is on the bench, I see
Hmm yes blood a kid in a midfield that is utterly useless. That’s a good idea.
A few on here been saying give the kids a chance – as we’re not expected to win why not give him a taste of what it’s like playing for the Villa! 🙂
Just watched a piece on Sky…Ian Taylor, Dion and Lee Hendry talking and showing clips from are last win at home against Arse…..the fatherXmas one…..top of the league after being 2 nil down…….then onto clip losing to Watford……everyone saying we ARE down NOW.Got to admit its tears in the eye time.
No matter what I will still watch EVERY match…no matter what league we are in….BUT if I could still go down I would not go and encourage fans to boycott Villa Park (and the shop) when its mathematically impossible to stay up and next season…..sorry its the only way to get something done.No good letting the crowds just dwindle away slowly as we descend even lower……strong action is needed.
Strangely enough I haven’t heard a single person who isn’t a Villa fan say that we’re down.
They always ask me what I think, instead.
Which is where I tell them we’re going down.
Makes me laugh….people saying Bongo not even on bench….most didnt want him at the club……
But he does have a good record against Arse.
When you’re clutching at straws, any will do.
Just goes to show how effective fans think Gestede is, imo.
pen.
Jesus
LOL I’ve become immune to losing now, sooner we’re put out of our misery the better.
Hutton is a stupid prick he’s shit at football and he has no brain whatsoever, did he really think he could get away with that pull back?
Agree!! You beat me to it.
Wish Niall Quinn would fuck off – he’s hammering us. He’s absolutely right, but I still wish he’d fuck off.
Kevin Friend is a bell end.
Ooh, it’s only 2-0
Your mate Sanchez again
Yep, he was useless there.
But still one of our best players in that half!
Give it a rest with the mate type jibes eh?
Questionable foul, but what the hell was that. It went from 4 v 4 to 3 v 1 ridiculously quick because Veretout and looked like Okore were just jogging back. (Think it was Okore anyways) with Lescott on his own.
We’re an absolute and utter joke of a side, I’m afraid.