Gnabry to start? Aston Villa - Arsenal predicted line-ups & stats preview
Last time Arsenal played Aston Villa, the Villans emerged 3-1 victors in a win that sparked protests from the Emirates crowd against Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Calls for Wenger’s head after one game look increasingly silly with each passing game, and Wenger’s side have the chance to return to the top of the table with a win at Villa Park tonight.
They face a Villa side with an appalling home record, having picked up just two home wins all season. They have scored just seven home goals – one third of the number that their opponents have managed in away fixtures – and have lost six of their ten games at Villa Park.
Team News:
Aston Villa:
Paul Lambert has Ciaran Clark back from suspension, but is likely to be without fellow defensive duo Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker. Brad Guzan and Gabby Agbonlahor have both overcome minor injuries in time to play, but Chris Herd and Joe Bennett are both missing through injury.
Predicted Line Ups: Guzan, Bacuna, Lowton, Clark, Luna, Albrighton, Delph, Westwood, Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor
Arsenal:
The Gunners could welcome back a host of players for the trip to Villa Park as their injury problems start to subside. Whilst Theo Walcott is out for the rest of the season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud are likely to return. There is also a slight chance that Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs could also return from injury, whilst Mesut Ozil is likely to be reinstalled into the starting line up after being rested for the start of last week’s FA Cup win over Tottenham.
Predicted Line Ups Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Wilshere, Arteta, Gnabry, Ozil, Podolski, Giroud
Recent Form:
The form guide suggests an away win. Whilst Arsenal are unbeaten in their four league games since the 6-3 thumping at the Etihad, and have won their last three league games, Villa have picked up just four points from their last five games. Whilst there are some signs of improvement with four points from their last two games, Arsenal’s current run makes them the strong favourites based upon form.
Players to Watch:
Aston Villa: Ashley Westwood
Former Crewe man Westwood has been Villa’s standout performer in recent weeks, with the highest Squawka Performance Score of any Villa player over the past ten games. Playing alongside Febian Delph in central midfield, Westwood has been Villa’s most creative player this season. He has created 32 chances for his teammates, whose wasteful finishing mean that he has just one assist this season.
Chances Created 2013/14
Particularly impressive in the last few months, he provided 21 of those 32 in the second ten games of the season so far. He has also stepped up his tackling in recent weeks. During the first half of his games this season he made just five tackles, but he has made 13 in the second half of his games, meaning that 72% of his successful tackles have been in the most recent half of his Premier League games.
Arsenal: Olivier Giroud
Injuries to Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner have heightened Arsenal’s reliance upon Giroud up front as the man to lead the line and finish off attacks. The Frenchman has been missing through injury himself in recent weeks, but returns to take up the striking mantle tonight. He only has one goal in his last six games – admittedly scored in his last game at Newcastle – but offers more than goals through his physicality and ability to hold the ball up. Giroud has won the most headed duels at Arsenal – 80 – and Wenger has frequently praised the physical attributes that are unique among Arsenal’s midfield and forward players.
Wenger has also suggested that the absence of Walcott, Gnabry and Podolski has led Giroud to lose his goalscoring form – a claim backed up by the stats. In the eight games that Walcott and Giroud have both started this season, Giroud has five goals, whilst in the ten games that Walcott hasn’t started but Giroud has he has just three goals.
Giroud Goals in 10 Games Without Walcott Starting
Whilst Walcott may be injured, the return of wide duo Gnabry and Podolski should provide more width to the side and could give Giroud the chances to make him the player to watch.
Prediction:
Both sides have experienced changes in fortunes since the opening day of the season. Villa’s dire home record, in tandem with Arsenal’s resurgence, should make this a routine win for Wenger’s side.
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