Weekend Match Preview: Aston Villa vs Arsenal
It will be a reunion of sorts when the Gunners travel to Villa Park to take on Gerrard Houllier’s men on Saturday. Aston Villa’s boss previously managed Liverpool and Arsenal manager Wenger expressed his surprise at seeing the fellow Frenchman manage a team
in the English Premier League. Aston Villa player, Robert Pires had been training with Arsenal when Villa took notice of him and landed him at the Park.
The Gunners currently sit on third spot in the Premier League table, with Aston Villa on the thirteenth. Arsenal have scored twenty-eight goals and conceded fifteen this season, winning them eight matches and losing four. Houllier’s team have won only four
matches and drawn and lost five, earning them seventeen points. They have conceded twenty goals this season and managed to score fifteen. Aston Villa have done better than Arsenal disciplinary wise though, as no player who calls Villa Park home, has seen red
so far this season. In contrast, Wenger’s squad has been shown eight red cards, the most any team has seen this season. Other statistics favour the Gunners as Villa have only won one of their last twenty-three meetings with Arsenal in the Premier League. From
the last eleven games played at Villa Park against Arsenal, Houllier’s team has not managed to win any. They have lost five fixtures to Wenger’s men and drawn six.
Arsenal have enjoyed a spectacular away-form this season, as they have scored fourteen points when playing in stadiums other than the Emirates. The fourteen points that they have gained, have made them the most successful ‘away-team’ this season. All is
not in shambles for Aston Villa though, as they have only lost one of their last sixteen matches this year in the Premier League competition. There is bound to be some last minute drama between both the Frenchman managed sides, as statistics show that either
team in the past three out of five matches, has found the back of the net in the 90th minute. If Arsenal are to find the net, it may be through Abou Diaby who has scored against Aston Villa four times out of the six times he has been fielded against
the red-and-blue outfit. If Aston Villa are to score, it may be through Stewart Downing or Ashley Young. Both of Houllier’s men this season have scored or helped score the ten goals Aston Villa have attained at home.
All eyes will be on Robert Pires, the 37-year-old who joined Aston Villa from Villarreal over the summer on a free transfer. The Frenchman has spoken to the press, expressing his thanks to Gerrard Houllier and the rest of the Villa team for including him
in the squad. “It seems I am too old”, he told the media on the 26th. The French midfielder was expecting to “hang up his boots in January'', but admitted to it being “very difficult to end things that way”. He understood that Villa gave him a place
in the team due to his “experience” and chose to overlook his age. The Frenchman spent six years with Arsenal, leaving the club in 2006 and insists that he “won’t do them any favours” being an Aston Villa player. He insisted on the situation “being very clear
between me and Wenger” and looks forward to meeting the French manager again.
Arsene, on the other hand, has conveyed his “surprise” at Houllier’s decision to leave the French Football Federation, where he was the director of football, to come and manage a team in the Premier League. Gerrard Houllier has not managed a team for three
years (he took up the job with the FFF during those years). Arsene made it clear that he understood why the Aston Villa board would have wanted the Frenchman as a manager, as Wenger and Houllier have previously faced each other during Houllier’s time as Liverpool
boss.
Critics have commented on Arsenal's erratic form, having lost their previous two matches; one against local rivals Tottenham in the Premier League and the recent one against Braga in the UEFA Champions League. Gunners' fans could argue that despite their
last two defeats, Arsenal are still sitting on the number three spot in the Premier League table and are still in an exceptional place in all the competitions (Carling Cup, English Premier League and Champions League) that they have entered in this season.
Arsenal will be missing Cesc Fabregas, who is suffering from a hamstring injury and Vermaelen with an Achilles problem. Ebou and Frimpong, both are suffering from knee injuries and Cliche is doubtful with a back injury. Reports suggesting that Diaby is
suffering from an ankle injury have emerged.
Aston Villa’s Albrighton will not be featuring as he is suffering from appendicitis and Cueller with a calf injury. Four players from Houllier’s squad are said to be suffering from a knee injury, namely Reo-Coker, Petrov, Delph and Heskey. Sidwell will sit
out with an injured Achilles and Weimann with a problematic ankle. Beye and Hogg are both doubtful to feature for their side, as they are suffering from an ankle injury.
Tags: