Gunners Have Top Chance At Villa
Dec 12th, 2015 by 'holic
βWe are ready to play under pressure. This is something that is really nice to know because we are playing for the title and that will bring the pressure on. Then when you go further in the cup competitions the play-off rounds come up so you will definitely play under pressure.”
Petr Cech, talking to Arsenal Player, demonstrating what we acquired when we bought him from Chelsea. He knows from experience what it takes to go all the way in the Premier League and Champions League. He appears keen to share that experience and those feelings with his new team mates. He played a key role in the marvellous win in Athens on Wednesday, but knows we will need to display the same intensity to take the points at Villa Park this weekend.
Leicester may have come into the weekend as league leaders, but their inactivity until Monday gave Manchester City to take over at the top with a last gasp home win over Swansea. Of course if we win at Villa Park we will go a point clear at the summit ourselves.
The hosts are in something of a holding phase awaiting the January transfer window to sign the players Remi Garde feels he needs to escape the drop. They have just six points all season, have gone a club record of 14 matches without a win, and have gone 8 matches without a win at home. They have been properly ‘Sherwooded’. That we should extend their misery is a given, but as Manchester United discovered at Bournemouth reputations are there to be damaged in this division.
Villa are likely to recall Jack Grealish after his latest off-field transgressions, but skipper Micah Richards is likely to remain ruled out by a knee injury. Thankfully we have no new injuries after Athens. It will be interesting to see if Arsene feels he needs to rest a couple of players after their exertions in midweek. After Villa Park there are eight recovery days before a crunch clash with City at the Grove. The manager may well go with the starting eleven that delivered against Olympiacos.
The ‘holic pound
Our last meeting with Villa will live long in the memory. The 4-0 hiding we gave them in the FA Cup Final in May was a day to remember, and looking back the start of their spectacular downturn in fortunes. It would be wonderful if we could repeat that performance but it will also be a powerful incentive for Villa who will be looking for a measure of revenge.
That day we had Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, and Alexis playing at their best. At Villa Park it will be a test of consistency for Joel Campbell, so impressive in Greece. It will be an indication of whether or not Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey can again master the balance between attacking and defending. We will see if Olivier Giroud can once again come up with the goods in an important away fixture.
The ‘holic crystal ball sees Villa attempting to apply pressure from the first whistle. They have a new manager to impress after all. They may frustrate us for a while but we showed good patience in the opening exchanges on Wednesday and I see a confident Arsenal eventually having too much ammunition for the hosts. 1-3 looks interesting at a generous 14/1 and will carry the burden of my quid.
As ever I wish the travelling faithful a cracking day out, and an enjoyable return journey with three points and top spot to celebrate.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
60 Responses to “Gunners Have Top Chance At Villa”
Bang
A fine preview, Guv’nor – which I have now read. Best of luck to the lads and to the ‘Holic pound.
COYG
Another game which should garner us 3 points with relative ease. Just the kinda game I worry most about. No prediction, just crossed fingers and watching from behind Countryman’s sofa (move over mate).
Oskar
nice one, H. Here’s to three lovely points for the good guys.
Petr Cech sounding like a very wise man. Wonder if he would lay a pound on a 1-3 scoreline though. Only if he thinks Flamini will score an own goal first I would say. Cheers, ‘holic. π
Top of the League at Christmas would be nice.
I still think we will win 2-0.
This is a remarkable season and we have a real chance to win the title this year. All around us rivals are faltering . We have a manager who prides himself on the consistency of his teams. I’ve seen many more consistent Arsenal teams but we have some real quality in this team even without Alexis and Santi and that should be enough to deal with a Villa side shorn of confidence.
Top of the league after we next play Villa would be nicer.
COYG
Offered two tickets for this game at the last minute today (thanks Alex). Unfortunately family things already arranged for before and after the game meant I can’t be there with you all just off Spaghetti Junction (my lady wife is uber understanding, but not that understanding). Oskar, there’s plenty of room behind the sofa for you and a glass of something to calm the nerves. Good memories of a great day out at Wembley leave me confident. Theo, Rambo and the HFB to give the Landlord hope but a late Cech worldy will keep the clean sheet and leave him out of pocket. 3-0 to the Gunners in yellow and the chant to be “We are top of the league, I say we are top of the league!” God I hope that’s not a hostage to fortune.
Finally United have given me huge pleasure this week. A glass raised to all my many Red friends here in East Anglia – why are you walking past my office door so quickly and why are you keeping radio silence? π
Countryman. Manchester United last tasted victory six matches ago and they have dropped to the Europa League in the interim. On the bright side 5 of their last 11 matches have ended nil-nil. Plenty of reasons for their fans to smile. π
Cheers H.
Looking forward to 3 points from a poor Villa side but who will probably be less of a pushover from we last met. They no longer have Tactics Tim showing them how and their new manager already has some Arsenal tutelage under his belt. 2-0 to the good guys is my call but anything less than 3 pts will be a disappointment and a letdown from Arsene’s book of consistency – something that’s not really showing of late.
Busy day today, dunno when i’ll get to see the game. I hope all those who are there or watching from behind sofas enjoy it. Bring home the three points lads.
COYG
Cheers H!
Last time we lost at Villa Park (so I’ve read elsewhere), was 13/12/99. I was there. 2-0 up at Half Time, courtesy of a St Dennis double, we lost 2-3. Notable for a long delay to start of 2nd half after a parachutist crashed into the main stand as part of the half-time entertainment.
No worries – we’ll batter the villan cunts today!
It has been written. 4-0 to the mighty Arsenal.
Morning all.
Remember that game well, Esso. Awful though it was the English lads gave the foreigners hell for laughing and joking about having won the match at half-time. They responded.
Villa are the poorest team I’ve seen at the Ems over the past 3 seasons and am amazed that they escaped the drop each time.
I expect nothing less than 3 points but we need to be patient and Flamster needs to sit and not get carried away with excursions into the box. 3-0 would suit us very nicely and I don’t expect to see any changes from Wednesday night.
COYRs
Morning Holic, a nice little warm-up to a run around in the Midlands.
The Arsenal Rolls Royce arrives at lunch time to leave Aston Smartin’.
Car puns – me ?
Nah ! 3-1 looks excellent ! π
Afternoon all.
Cheers for the preview, guv.
Last seasons games against todays oponents gave us an aggrigate score of 12-0, we may have a few injuries this time around, but they have lost their striker to Lpoo, their former captain to Man Citeh and their current captain to injury, I’d be extreamly surprised if we don’t give them a tonking………
Then again, we do nothing the easy way.
COYG.
Cech, Bel, Per, Kos, Nacho, Flame, Ramsey, Feo, Ozil, Joel, OG
Bench;
Ospina, DeBu’, Gabriel, Gibbs, CC, Ox, Iwobi.
Thanks for another fine preview, H.
I am very nervous about this banana skin.
Does Remi have insight into Arsene’s approach to the game?
Can we finally cope with being overwhelming favourites?
Can we cope with the memory of how we destroyed Villa at Wembley without dismissing them before a ball is kicked?
Have we stepped off the cloud 9 from the win in Greece?
Can we focus on the effort it will take to win this game?
I hope the Holic pound reaps benefits.
Feo to score in the first ten minutes is 14/1 with Skybet. Worth a dip. I have a funny feeling it’s going to be a goalfest today.
A pre-Christmas stuffing.
A “doing” of epic proportions.
0-0 then.
morning, all. I wake to rain, and fear the banana skin.
Detailed article about Stan Kroenke from Bloomberg.
Doesn’t make me love him any more than I did
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-11-18/nfl-owner-stan-kroenke-wants-to-take-over-l-a-
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
GO WIN, ARSENAL.
Come ON!
ya think, kev?
Penalty for Arsenal!!
GIIRRRROOOUUUUDD
Girooooud!! 0-1.
wow pen for us and converted one! π go OG!
Should have let Feo take it, I need the money π
relieves a bit of their early pressure.
Heh @ Cynic.
what a break, goal Ramsey!!
Super Goal!!!
Brilliant counter. Ramsey!! 13th assist for Ozil. 0-2.
a correctly given pen, a beautiful break, lots of little uncalled fouls, and a lot of futile AV effort. I see more goals from us in the 2nd half.
I don;t think that third was offside either.
It was close.
Time to step it up like title winners. COYG
theo took it beautifully, it was very close…
that was an ugly passage of play. yeesh.
Need to wake the fuck up. It’s not over yet.
our passing is at times woeful.
Odd subs unless they’re feeling their legs.
Subs were needed.
Joel was out on his feet and we looked flat.
we look really tired.
Not surprising really.
Same starting XI who started in Greece.
Giroud having a stormer.
not surprising at all, they’re gutting this one out.
and then we can do that. nearly π
I would call this a “professional” performance.
og’s willingness to run in minute 94…and that’s it! top of the league!
We are top of the league, say we are top of the league!
What Countryman said.
Top of the league, for a day at least. Did what was needed and got the three points.
Good team to play after our exertions in midweek. I said it would be 2-0 more in hope than speciation but I was right. I like to think we had a couple more gears if we needed them,
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