Quantcast
Home   >   Match   >   Preview: Arsenal vs Aston Villa, team news, line-up & prediction

Preview: Arsenal vs Aston Villa, team news, line-up & prediction

By on May 14, 2016

emirates-stadium

A frustrating season draws to a close when we entertain relegated Aston Villa at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

This campaign has certainly been an opportunity missed but unfortunately the same old problems cost us in the end – a lack of investment last summer and crippling injuries.

However, the silver lining is that Tottenham weren’t the beneficiaries of a crazy season that saw all the usual suspects fall away as Leicester City stormed to the title.

Spurs’ loss at home to Southampton last weekend has given us hope of celebrating St Totteringham’s Day once again but we need a huge favour from Newcastle United.

A two point gap and inferior goal difference means we need to beat Villa and hope Newcastle beat Tottenham as a draw at St James’ Park would be no good for us unless we beat Villa like 14-0.

Unfortunately the Geordies are unlikely to be on top form having been consigned to the Championship in midweek. We can only pray that the players want to give their fans and possibly Rafa Benitez a warm send-off.

Team News

Welbeck has been cruelly ruled out for nine months after suffering a serious knee injury against Man City last week.

Mertesacker is still out with a hamstring injury while Oxlade-Chamberlain is also on the sidelines with a knee problem.

However, Ozil is back in contention after recovering from the minor hip injury that saw him miss the City game while Wilshere is pushing for a start having played 70 minutes last week.

Rosicky could also be given a place on the bench as he looks to make his final appearance in an Arsenal shirt before leaving the club next month.

For Villa, they’ll be without Kieran Richardson and Jordan Veretout but Rudy Gestede, Alan Hutton and Ciaran Clark should all be passed fit.

Preferred line-up

I hope we see Jack given a start and I’d like to see him alongside Coquelin in midfield. I’d also give Walcott a start in attack. I know what you are probably thinking and yes he doesn’t deserve it as he’s been awful recently. However, this is our final chance to see what he’s really made of. Does he want to stay and play for Arsenal next season? Now is his time to prove it or it’s ‘bye bye’ in the summer….

Prediction

Aston Villa have been one of the worst sides in Premier League history so we have no excuses not to roll them over tomorrow. We’ve been playing in second gear in recent games and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another lackluster performance on Sunday. However, hopefully the boys will be doing their bit to try and finish above Spurs. I’m going for 4-0 but we’ll have to see if Newcastle can do their bit to help us steal second.

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

COYG!!!

One Comment