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.
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