I’ve left this until the last minute as I’m not sure what to think really. Arsenal are many people’s prediction to win the title and I actually think they’re more likely to win the league than Citeh, in my opinion.
Yet many Villa fans I’ve spoken to are very confident that we’ll win today. I’m not so sure. Apparently Arsenal are making an extra effort to win this one so they can get revenge for us doing the double over them last season. Whatever, we know we’re going to face a very good side and it’ll be difficult.
One conversation involved us agreeing that if you really take it to the Gunners and give them a bit of “treatment” straight from the off, they don’t like it and are likely to back off. Here is where I’m going to be watching Onana very closely, as I think his physicality will contribute massively over this season. McGinn can get stuck in a bit too, although the same conversation led to us agreeing that his is a position that if we’re being ruthless, could do with upgrading. It’s a sacriligious thought really, as I love the bloke, but if we’re being pragmatic, nobody is safe.
Squad news and it’s pretty good. It’s unchanged this week and Unai has spoken about Kamara and Mings coming back. Kamara is a few weeks away from training with the team and Mings too sounds even closer.
As for Arsenal, well, it’s probably easier if I just post the teams;
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Havertz.
Subs: Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Pau, Konsa, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Carlos, Maatsen, Nedeljkovic, Barkley, Buendia, Jaden, Ramsey, Duran
Same team as last week, I think, which is how Emery likes it and who can blame him? Last week was a good performance after all , so why change it?
As previously mentioned, I think if we get at them we can win this, but they’ll be up for it too and the question will be can can make the better start? Whoever does, will probably get the early goal and it’ll make a very favourable difference.
I predict goals and a 2-2 looks most likely to me.
UTV!
Comments
105 responses to “Villa-Arsenal; Looks very drawish to me”
Right full back Oscar Mingueza is playing a blinder for Celta Vigo right now. He’s ex-Barcelona, 25 years old and valued at around 10 million.
Well worth a punt I’d say.
Sorry but I can’t look at a match these days without checking out the right back 🙂
Illing Junior season long loan to Bologna
Moreno’s salary also off the books and there should be a couple of loan fees involved.
Anyone else going out / do we have room for an extra player?
Emery doesn’t like taking players on loan other than in extremis so we’ll see over the next couple of days.
Various sources reporting we’ve agreed a 34m deal for Lutsharel Geetruida. If that’s so, then I think a very versatile and smart signing. A player who can cover RB and CB is a very shrewd signing.
Saw that Texas and I agree with you – smart piece of business if true.
One report saying the deal’s all agreed and he’s due at BMH tomorrow for a medical.
Had a look at Geertruida’s stats on the ‘Let’s Talk Villa’ YouTube channel. He looks like a really good buy and, as he has been selected as captain at Feyenoord, another leader at the back.
For me just one more needed but if we don’t sign an attacker I won’t be too disappointed. Getting a good right back is far more important.
Random one: Scott McTominay will be available for free next summer stage 28. Interested?
He’s just gone to Italy!
Was it Lambert’s actions at Villa that originally coined the phrase ‘bomb squad’ when he forced a number of high earning players to train away from the first team squad?
Seems it’s a phrase that’s become universally adopted and has now attracted the attention of FIFA and the PFA – probably the only thing he’ll be remembered for 🙂
…and the appalling treatment he received from Lambert making him the scapegoat. I remember writing a piece about his mistreatment. It was so well written Badger took it down thinking I’d nicked it from somewhere! 🙂 (I must have been sober at the time!).
Who??
Alan Hutton I’m guessing?
I actually meant the way Lambert was treated by Lerner.
Lerner’s reign, MON days aside was horrific. Awful, awful days.
Barrenechea off to Valencia on a year long loan according to Romano
Are we clearing wages for a couple of signings?
Geertruida and now Raphina rumoured to come in before the deadline. I suspect Geertruida would only happen if Carlos goes out.
Brum Live are saying Emery is still keen on bringing in a replacement for Diaby and, having missed out on Felix, is targeting Raphina!
Raphinha?
What a player, now that would be a marquee signing.
I’d guess that the gossip about Raphinha has come about because of Olmo’s arrival at Barcelona. Can’t see this one though. Raphinha’s playing well at the moment and he’s a real asset for a team aiming at winning the CL. He can play both wings and yesterday played as a ten. Can’t see Barcelona letting him go.
Barca are buggered financially. They may not have a choice! How the worms have turned! Look at Guindogan being allowed to return for free to Citeh…We have always had a good connection to Barca for some reason. Even better with Monkey! (Monci).
Tripitaka!!!!!!
Sky now saying we’re interested in Nicholas Jackson at Chelsea – might be more realistic. I’d prefer Raphina!
No doubt we’ll be linked with about ten more players before the window closes!
Didn’t realise that under FIFA rules the maximum number of players a club can loan out is six – a direct response to Chelsea’s original ‘loan army’!
Together with PSR / FFP or whatever else you want to call it, it encourages clubs to sell younger players (which adds put profit to the bottom line) adding a buy back clause to the deal to protect their original investment.
It seems to me that Chelsea are in a bit of a pickle and will be forced to fire sale players in the next three days!
It would serve Chelsea right if they were stuck with players and ended up with a huge points deduction after breaking rules. All clubs should get together to ensure they don’t do them any favours.
As for Villa I’m a bit concerned that we have left it too late to strengthen. We desperately need a RB/CB plus another forward. Players prices will be inflated due to time left in transfer window. It’s about time the window was closed before season starts because it’s ridiculous players heads are still being turned when they are meant to be focused on the club paying their wages.
I don’t see how the young Argie going to Valencia helps with depth. Where’s the depth in centre midfield now? I assume Dendonker won’t be involved, although I’d have no problem if he was, assuming he played at his best, as he did when he started in the 3-0 pasting of Newcastle in arguably Unai’s best performance. Anyway, I would have liked to see Enzo start in the League Cup and given some sub time in the league against lesser teams.
BFR I suspect this is all about trying to meet EUFA rules for the CL – squad ratio costs and home grown players – on the assumption Villa want to bring in one or two more experienced additions before Saturday.
Villa don’t have a record of significant deals (lots of very strange deals though) on deadline day – it may be different this year?
According to this –
https://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-pause-outgoing-transfer-at-last-minute-due-to-internal-reasons-injury-concerns-mentioned/
Villa have paused the loan deal for Barrenechea at the last minute. No reasons given.
As BFR suggested they may be trying to move Dendonker out so Emery decided he needed more cover.
I see that Marc Albrighton has retired from football. He always gave 100% when playing for us and I liked him a lot. Why we ever let him go is a mystery to me but I guess that he had the last laugh.
I wish him all the best.
Hear! Hear!
Anyone else feel we have been completely shafted on the Douglas Luis deal now both lads are heading out
Not really. The club made it clear that Tielemans was brought in last season to replace him – knowing Luiz wasn’t likely to stay beyond the end of the season. People keep commenting that Onana was brought in to replace him, but it’s clear he’s an additional CM with a different profile we didn’t have before, to compete with the position Kamara has occupied; likely on the understanding that many folks coming back from an ACL really struggle for 1-2 years. I actually think CM is our strongest unit in on the park right now. I’m more concerned about competition for Ollie and forward line and reinforcements in defence.
CL draw on now. Fingers crossed!
Bayern Munich will play ASTON VILLA. Plus Paris St-Germain and Barcelona. No messing then.
Now been amended and thats not correct although they are saying that we will play Bayern
We are Bayern and Liepzig from pot one so far pretty decent compared to who else is in there
Club Brugge from pot 2
Juventus . Had to be
Juventue coming to Villa Park
Young boys from pot 3
Celtic pot 3
Celtic Away
Bolonia at Villa Park
Bologna and Monaco
ASTON VILLA will play Bayern Munich (home), Leizpig (away), Juventus (home), Club Bruges (away), Celtic (home), Young Boys (away), Bologna (home) and Monaco (away).
We have Bayern and Juve at VP but compared to others this was a brilliant draw. All the other sides, including Celtic, are tough but winnable fixtures.
Exciting!