Arsenal's take on (an anticipated) PHYSICAL Aston Villa team

Details: Written by Adrian Thurston; Published: Thursday, 18 September 2014 17:58

Arsenal come up head to head with a team that at this early stage of the premier league sits above them, and as evenly poised match as can be, Arsenal need to WIN this one more than Aston Villa.

Guess what, old campaigners like Gabby Agbonlahor know this more than any other player on the park, including the Arsenal 11. This match is always intense and yields as many fouls as playing Sunday afternoon league.

Arsenal will be up against a rejuvenated Villa outfit, this the first time since the departure of Martin O’Neill does this Villa club resemble anything with self-belief, all this without their talisman Benteke who gave us all scares the last time we visited Villa park.

After a brilliant 1 minute, which yielded 2 goals, with enterprising play and finishes by Giroud and Wilshere, we left Villa Park with our heads held high after the humiliating defeat at the Emirates which to me sprung all this transfer frenzy. In came Mesut and the rest was thought to be history.

However, this last window was a disgrace, and going into this match with a backline as thin as can be, ‘touch wood’ no injuries by all costs. Arsenal need to WIN this one, and WIN it as clean as possible with no casualties.

Wilshere, Jack Wilshere, he will be immense, if anyone is up for a battle. I have this opinion of Jack that I just realised after the Man City game. Jack plays better if there is constantly an opponent trying to do battle with him in the centre of the park.

In fact, my realisation comes after both matches were against Man City where he stood head and shoulders above the rest, first in the Community Shield, then this past weekend. In the shield Yaya Toure was always in his face, this motivated Jack, this past weekend Fernandinho was constantly in his face and guess what Jack prevailed in both.

Jack seems to enjoy a central battle, he thrives on it. He never backs down, and that makes him a better player. Yes, he is a fantastically gifted, a natural baller, but he needs to be provoked, to show how good he is, and I am hoping, in fact, I pray Gabby or Fabian Delph takes it to him, gets stuck in his face, throws in some challenges, and guess what Wilshere will come out on top.

With Roy Keane as second, he will only have 1 contribution to the match, his advice on how his Villa team must be physical. This time, that is the wrong advice, if Wenger is sharp enough, he will be expecting this. Them playing us physically will be their downfall. If we managed to finish our chances City would have suffered the same fate to that tactics.

Villa Park is one of those grounds where we just cannot seem to lose, it’s been almost 16 years since Villa have beaten us there in the premier league, the last coming in December 1998, and guess what I see this trend continuing.

Our last 10 league matches there; we have WON 5 and played to a stalemate in 5. The 3 points is there for the taking, we need it more than them, a DRAW will be a failure, it will be 4 straight matches with no WIN, and we cannot afford that so early into the season. United have been dismal, we only a point ahead, which means only 1 thing. We have also been dismal.

Let’s get behind the boys and go to war, Jack our commander in chief, Gabby and Delph our pawns.

Latest:

Comments

#6 AThurston 2014-09-19 09:50

Its not to difficult to predict the starting line up with Wenger these days, same old formation, infact i cant wait for Walcott to return and have him sit with a decision to make. Villa is a must WIN match, failing to register 3 points, means we sit with 6 or 7 from 5 matches, and that resembles something like the time we went in and bought 5 players in the space of 24 hours. WENGER needs to show his quality, not the players, play them in their position and let them make you look good. #its Wengers for the taking. Convinced Jack will shine, (if he plays) and Welbeck will come good.

#5 TC 2014-09-19 09:19

If they don't all turn up and pull their fingers out we are going to get whupped simples as. I just hope Wonga doesn't start Ozil on the wing, AV are going to come at us and try to bully us off the ball as we have a few pansies playing and they know who to target.

+3 #4 Alanrad 2014-09-18 22:17

Having watched football for 60 years - I will explain the problem Arsenal faces and its pretty simple. Our defence is as good as anyone elses. Its the strategy we use that is at fault. Arsenal have developed the lazy build up from the back as thier usual style. Our back 4 have become playmakers. Watch how many time our attacks start with our back 4. This has two problems. Firstly it allows all 11 oposition players to get into thier own half which means our 6 outfield players are always out numbered 6 to 11. Also this style requires the back 4 to move up to the halfway line. And this is where they continue to get beaten by quick break aways. We must develop a style that gets back to the old days when we broke very quickly and mid fielders were our play makers. Like Viera who could hold the ball. So when you watch the back 4 passing slowly along the back and edging forward to the halfway line. You will see what the problem is. Then groan like me

+2 #3 Davith 2014-09-18 20:51

Don't doubt the importance of this match, a must win. With a fragile and weary defense, no holding midfielder, and (possibly) Jack W out it will be a massive ask. Hope the gunners are really up for the battle?

+2 #2 Ryan 2014-09-18 18:39

Villa fan in peace, I think it will be a very close game, it's always pretty close by the odd goal or draws, you've never really smashed us only on the odd occasion.

Villa haven't had consistency to our game due to a lack of experience, last season we took the most points from the top 4 than any other including the top 4 themselves, Villa have no pressure to perform and it's more of an Arsenal team that has to perform and win.

I think Jack will be vital for your success at Villa Park tomorrow, there is one stumbling block that I see, I see Delph, Cleverley and Westwood giving Jack's Ankle a hard time especially with Roy Keane mentoring them.

Villa really have no pressure to perform, no expectancy to win or in a case like you say need to win, yet the crowd you will be facing could be the most upbeat crowd at Villa Park over a decade, it will be a different Villa you have ever faced and I just hope for your sake that Vlaar and Benteke don't return straight to the fold because that is when Villa win most of their matches, it's not normally their performances but rather their inspiration they have on the team, yet this season it seems Roy Keane has become the off field captain.

+1 #1 Leigh avfc 2014-09-18 18:28

So in all what your saying is your chance of winning hinges on agbonlahor or Delph kicking wilshire? Agbonlahors chances of kicking wilshire of slim as agbonlahor plays as a centre forward and 2nd he may not be on the pitch having watched old jack play against Dortmund and not play for England I don't believe he is special enough to warrant special attention, he is now what he was 3 years ago a talent that hasn't developed any further given his injury record he might pull up with an injury getting his fags out of his pocket. It's a sad day when a team as large as arsenal are praying wilshire gets man marked to motivate himself to play what happened to the likes of viera,parlour,Adams, wright,petit that used to motivate themselves and others it shows how low wenger has forced the gunners expectations wi

Refresh comments list

Arsenal's take on (an anticipated) PHYSICAL Aston Villa team

Comments

Latest comments