please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Venue: Villa Park Saturday, September 20th 2014 KO Time: 15:00 BST please log in to view this image Head to Head Against Aston Villa: Won: 71 Lost: 62 Drawn: 41 Goals For: 271 Goals Against: 251 Goal Difference: 20 Last 6 Meetings: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa (FA Cup) please log in to view this image Starting XI: please log in to view this image Bench: Ospina Coquelin Diaby Sanchez Rosický Wilshere Podolski
If Wilshere is hurt and can't make the game I'd honestly play Oxo over Ramsey as CM. Rambo and Ozil need to rediscover their form. Rosicky's energy in midfield warrants him a spot over Cazorla and I'd hand Campbell his first start here. Obviously a revert back to 4-2-3-1 is in order.
Cazorla will definitely start after being rested midweek. Oxo probably will as well, although I have no idea where he'll play. Maybe him and Ramsey in cm together, with cazorla at lm? Campbell will probably have to wait for the capital one cup for his first start
I agree with this line up. Ox, Cazorla and Rosicky should start, they will inject some energy into what has looked like a very lacklustre Arsenal recently.
Please oh please, nobody come after the game if we draw and say GOOD POINT, I can sadly still see it happening with some of the fans on this board.
You seem obsessed with being negative about Arsenal - and really dislike any positive support for the club/players - at least that's what it seems to me.
Give it a rest lol Firstly, why do you care so much about someone having a more positive view of an outcome than you? And secondly why do you have to make that feeling known in every match thread before anyone has even said anything positive?
In regards to the team for the game - unfortunately I can't see Wenger going for your team Oxo, though I like it. I'd expect Cazorla, Ramsey, Arteta and probably Ozil to play. Though it'll be interesting to see if we go back to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
I'd put money on that not being our starting line up Our next game after this is the league cup so fringe players will get an opportunity then. For this game I think we will see a similar line up to the one we have seen so far. Wilshere will probably be rested, possibly one other. Cazorla will definitely play.
Wilshere is fit so he slots in midfield meaning that I'd drop Campbell for Oxo. I'd still play Rosicky but Wenger may opt for Cazorla
Interesting that people have suggested Ramsey is playing poorly at the moment yet he has scored more goals, taken more shots, made more tackles and completed more passes than anyone else in our team so far this season...
Also interesting that a lot of our stats are quite similar to Aston Villas - which is probably a comment on how poorly we've been performing and how well they are doing. Also our goals conceded is pretty poor.
Our stats may be similar, but ours are slightly ahead in every aspect except goals conceded. If we can shore up our defence for this game (going 4231 might help), then I expect us to win. Not easily, but win nontheless. If we win, it will probably be by a 1 goal margin in a scrappy game. I can't see us turning Villa over. I predict that after the game, Arsenal87 will have a rant how we played like **** and didn't deserve the win, whilst the rest of us mere mortals talk about how it was a good point against a Villa side that is looking like the Villa side from 2009/10 which pushed us close for 4th if I remember correctly.
Big game today, we need to be going for all 3 points. Villa have been playing well this season and beat liverpool last weekend. It's not going to be an easy game and I expect them to get chances and probably score. We will need to be sharp in the final third and not get complacent if we take the lead. Still think we will win though. After losing to Dortmund the players may be tired but they'll be fired up. I think we may see a couple of changes from the Dortmund game but most of our rotation will come midweek in the league cup.
Ramsey has been playing poorly. You can twist the stats however you like but anyone who actually watches Arsenal games can tell you that.
The whole team haven't been up to standard but Ramsey and ozil have been the two people seem to be picking out of the crowd. The stats show despite being perceived as playing worse than others he has had more shots, scored more goals, made more tackles and more passes than anyone else in the team.
#Arsenal team to play Aston Villa: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck Looks like we may be going back to a 4-2-3-1. Thank **** for that.
