Aston Villa will be looking for another memorable trip to the Emirates Stadium when they visit the capital for a clash with Arsenal on Sunday.
The Villans have defeated the Gunners only three times in 32 meetings but all those wins came recently at the Emirates Stadium.
The most recent of those wins came when Villa last visited the north Londoners on the opening day of last season, when a brace from Christian Benteke helped the them shock the Gunners with a 3-1 victory.
Paul Lambert will be desperate for a similar result because his side has strangely lost their goalscoring form this season. Villa’s problems up front continue as they have gone for eight hours and 42 minutes in the league without a goal since Christian Benteke scored against Manchester United back in mid-December.
Lambert cannot be faulted for effort. He has tried a couple of formations and has been active in the window to bolster his squad with creative players. Scott Sinclair recently joined on loan from Manchester City while another January signing, Carles Gil, had an impressive first start with a stunning goal in the FA Cup win over Bournemouth.
Arsenal will be out for maximum points, which could take them level on points with third-placed Southampton if other results go their way.
The Gunners may have to do without the sensational Alexis Sanchez because the Chilean forward is struggling with a hamstring injury. Arsene Wenger revealed that he will not risk the Gunners’ top goalscorer should tests on Saturday be discouraging.
At least Wenger will be able to boost his defensive options by including new signing Gabriel Paulista into the squad after the defender recently arrived from Villarreal. The Gunners boss is happy enough with the centre-back’s fitness.
Arsenal team news
- England striker Danny Welbeck (thigh) is close to a return, but is not quite ready.
- Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) is expected to come into contention ahead of the north London derby at Tottenham next weekend but probably won’t feature here.
- Midfielders Jack Wilshere (ankle), Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Abou Diaby (calf) are all still out, as is full-back Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder).
Aston Villa team news
- Fabian Delph will return from an achilles injury but Gabriel Agbonlahor is a doubt with a hamstring problem.
- Joe Cole is also a doubt with a hamstring injury.
- Libor Kozak (broken leg), Ron Vlaar (knee) and Philippe Senderos (calf) all remain long-term injury absentees.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa prediction
Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker should still start at the heart of the Gunners’ defence despite Gabriel Paulista’s arrival. Wenger could go with a 4-1-4-1 formation with Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey operating as the attacking midfield quartet supporting Olivier Giroud.
Lambert may go with a 4-3-3 formation, which would defend in a 4-5-1 formation with Gill and Andreas Weimann dropping into midfield to track back with Arsenal’s full-backs. Delph and Carlos Sanchez would operate as advanced central midfielders with Ashley Westwood at the base of central midfield.
The Villa boss will be wary of going toe-to-toe with Arsenal given what happened in the reverse fixture when Ozil tormented the Villans during quick transitions as Arsenal ran out 0-3 winners at Villa Park last September.
Aston Villa will probably sit deep in their half and try to play on the counter. Arsenal usually gives opponents chances but the Villains will first have the unenviable task of keeping on-form Cazorla and Rosicky quiet.
Score prediction
Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
