Arsenal
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups & Predicted Score
Arsenal welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a preview including team news, likely line-ups and predicted score for the game
Source: Wikimedia
Arsenal get the new season under way as they welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It’s been a hugely frustrating summer to be a Gunners fan with the club yet to make any serious additions to the squad, despite claims that boss Arsene Wenger has a hefty transfer kitty to play with this summer.
Wenger is under huge pressure to buy before the window closes after missing out on several key names, and with injuries piling up before a ball has even been kicked, the north Londoners go into the game with a thread-bare squad to choose from.
Despite 17 players leaving the Emirates this summer, Yaya Sanogo is the only notable signing so Wenger will have practically the same squad to choose from that clinched fourth place with a 1-0 win away at Newcastle on the final day of last season.
Aston Villa on the other hand have brought in several new faces with Nicklas Helenius, Antonio Luna, Aleksandar Tonev, Jores Okore, Leandro Bacuna and Jed Steer all arriving early in the summer, but undoubtedly their best peiece of business was persuading Christian Benteke to sign a new contract and commit his future to Villa Park.
Paul Lambert will be hoping for an improved campaign after narrowly avoiding relegation last season but his young squad will be a year older and have that extra experience that should stand them in good stead.
Team News
As mentioned previously, Arsenal have a number of injures to contend with. Mikel Arteta is the latest to be ruled out after picking up a thigh injury that could see him on the sidelines for six weeks.
The Spaniard joins Thomas Vermaleen, Abou Diaby, Ryo Miyaichi and Nacho Monreal on the treatment table. Per Mertesacker will captain the side in the absence of Vermaelen and Arteta, and the German will start alongside Laurent Koscielny at the back as Wenger has no other recognised centre-backs to choose from.
Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna are all expected to start despite picking up minor knocks while away on international duty. Santi Cazorla’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the game after he arrived back late from a friendly against Ecuador in midweek.
Yaya Sanogo is expected to be in the squad but will only make the bench.
Villa will be without Yacouba Sylla after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury earlier this week. The only other injury concern for Lambert if Chris Herd who’s struggling with a calf problem.
Predicted Line-Ups
Predicted Score
Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa: Despite their injury problems and lack of new faces in the squad, Arsenal should still have too much quality for Villa.
What would your team be and what’s your score prediction? Share your thoughts below.
Eliano
August 16, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Wenger must buy player
Villa fan
August 16, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Lawton and Guzman, you could at least get their names right! Lowton and Guzan!!!
Clark won’t start at left back, not when we have signed Antonio Luna, oh and Villa will win 2-1
san
August 16, 2013 at 9:54 pm
I see villa winning this or at least drawing arsenals squad is full of players with knocks and fitness concerns, they parked the bus preseason against man city and that wont work against a villa side that held onto benteke with wiemann and agbonlahor i see us struggling for the first three weeks not looking forward to the NLD could be 5-2 again but the wrong way
This guy
August 16, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Parked the bus? Wtf haha we won 3 – 1. We didnt park the bus
hanad
August 16, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Arsenal will win 4:0 against weak club aston villa giroud 2 ox 1 and 1 for jack boy
oz
August 16, 2013 at 10:14 pm
yes villa winning lol how each season brings fresh hopes,.be a easy arsenal stroll 3-0.
Prikason
August 16, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Arsenal wil win by 3-1.
Buh dats not to say dat ars has a strong team lyk chelsea n man-city.
I bliv wenger iss waiting on d last minute to go sign some cheap players he might end up sending on loan by january.
God help us!
alexander kay
August 16, 2013 at 10:42 pm
Arsene should bring in new faces to put arsenal ahead in this competitive season.
Slowjunior
August 16, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Why cant we all learn from the past mistake?If arsenal wins aston villa arsene wenger will be proud again and say the team is strong so we dont need new signings,wdf***k is going on with arsenal?
Moris bakhal
August 16, 2013 at 11:46 pm
I think tomas rosicky should be started on left flank as poldi undercovers to make some massive effort later from bench
Jetsenal
August 16, 2013 at 11:49 pm
We gunner win easly no matter what,even though we haven’t sing any new players,i believe that we gunner win 4-0..
Moris bakhal
August 16, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Clement granie’r would be a better option for wenger to deal
Moris bakhal
August 16, 2013 at 11:56 pm
It will be a tough game, but may God bless the gunners.they realy need this than any other to rise our spirits and hopes.
Olamidesunday
August 17, 2013 at 12:24 am
I think wenger should bring new faces ahead of d team but as 4 aston villa we are well prepered 4 dem we will win d match ars 4 villa 2
Henry Sunday
August 17, 2013 at 3:11 am
Well,it’s bitter pile to swallow owning to fact that Arsenal football club have been very stuborn and reluctant to spend money in ongoing transfer window. However,what is left now is for the players to show their stuff if they are to maintain in top flight or else I see them rumbling. How can you go into a new season after three good months without a single addition to already weak squad? Arsene Wenger and the board should stop playing with our intelligent. Pursuing a deal that seems futile is rubbish while there are other options else where! I’m an ardent supporter of Arsenal and nothing can’t change my mind. I wish those lads all the best and I believe we will take our first three points irrespective what Aston Villa will do;after all we are not their mate.
Chima emmenuel
August 17, 2013 at 5:14 am
Though i am frustrated 4 d fact dat arsenal as ateam av not been able 2 do anything tangible in d transfer market,but we still nid 2 adapt 2 dat nw till wen sumthing wud be done.we hope 2 win n grab our 3 point witout delay.4 me,its arsenal 4-0 astonvilla
Leo osas
August 17, 2013 at 5:54 am
Wenger should be fired cos he is the worst manager in football today.Arsenal1 aston villa 3.i will be joining Man City this term from Arsenal the Toy team.
Neil
August 17, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Leo Osas… good riddance to you.. go join a team that tries to buy the league and still cant do that and is useless in Europe…. Arsenal don’t need fans like you.!! Bye bye !
kudos
August 17, 2013 at 8:17 am
@Leo Osas, please leave in peace and safe journey. O.Y.O. Gunner till Jesus comes!