Aston Villa v Arsenal preview
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Arsene Wenger takes charge of his 400th Premiership match as Arsenal seek a much-needed boost against Aston Villa.
The Gunners' last realistic chance of silverware disappeared last week as they were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by PSV Eindhoven, to cap a miserable fortnight which also saw them lose the Carling Cup final and bow out of the FA Cup.
Arsene Wenger's side are also 20 points behind Manchester United in the Premiership title race and could be forgiven for feeling a little flat as they travel to Villa Park.
However, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the league in 2007 and Wenger will have urged his players to make sure they finish in the top four.
Villa may fear an Arsenal backlash but will at least be much fresher than their opponents as they prepare for only their second match since 10th February.
Martin O'Neill's side have not conceded a goal at home since the turn of the year but have been tagged 'draw specialists' and will be eager to claim all three points to climb back up to mid-table.
Gary Cahill is set to return to the starting line-up after being dropped for the 1-1 draw at Fulham 11 days ago, as Martin Laursen has an ankle injury.
Ashley Young and John Carew have impressed since joining the club in January but Luke Moore is pushing for a recall up front after scoring four goals in as many reserve games since recovering from a shoulder problem.
Shaun Maloney is battling to recover from a virus which kept him out of training last week.
Tomas Rosicky has missed Arsenal's last four games due to groin trouble but returns to the squad to give Wenger more midfield options.
Mathieu Flamini (foot) and full-back Justin Hoyte (hamstring) are also available again, but Alexander Hleb is definitely out with a knee injury.
Gael Clichy is suspended and will join the banned Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor on the sidelines.
Thierry Henry (groin and stomach) and Robin van Persie are both long-term absentees, so Wenger must decide between Theo Walcott, Jeremie Aliadiere and Julio Baptista for the striking roles.
my prediction: 1-3
Villa's struggles to continue as Arsenal return to winning ways.
Player to watch: Julio Baptista -
aston villa to inflict more misery on arse-nal 2-1 to the villa!!
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Originally posted by The man who was death:aston villa to inflict more misery on arse-nal 2-1 to the villa!!
how dare you...
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it would be a draw, look at the players arsenal are missing right now. arsenal is too young and inconsitent, when villa gets mad, odds are 50-50
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even though their still down,i still think arsenal will take a 1-0 win.
Fabregas to score his first epl goal. -
Diaby strike sinks Villa
Aston Villa's woeful recent record against Arsenal continued after going down to a 1-0 defeat at Villa Park thanks to Abou Diaby's fortunate goal.
Julio Baptista's harmless shot was troubling no-one until it struck Diaby and nestled its way into the net, giving The Gunners a lead they would not lose.
The win moves Arsenal ahead of Liverpool into third in the Premiership while Villa's dismal run against the North Londoners now stretches to 17 games without a win.
There was little to separate the sides in the early exchanges before Arsenal opened the scoring from their first meaningful attack of the game.
Baptista's speculative shot appeared non-threatening for Villa, although it struck Diaby who inadvertently diverted the ball around Thomas Sorensen after just 10 minutes.
Villa tried to hit back but Gareth Barry's free-kick was comfortable for Jens Lehmann while Arsenal came within a whisker of doubling their advantage.
Freddie Ljungberg's pin-point through-ball sent Jeremie Aliadiere away and only a fine last-gasp save from Sorensen denied the French striker getting his name on the scoresheet.
Aliadiere's pace was causing the home side all sorts of problems and only pressure from Olof Mellberg following Denilson's neat pass denied the striker a clean shot on goal.
Villa thought they had won a penalty when Johan Djourou brought down John Carew, but referee Martin Atkinson deemed the contact outside the box.
Carew tried his luck from the set-piece but could only find the wall, although, from the rebound Mellberg saw his rasping shot deflected out for a corner.
Villa should have been level on 39 minutes through Ashley Young from Barry's square-ball, but his side-footed effort was under-hit and saved by Lehmann.
Arsenal nearly made the home side pay with Aliadiere amazingly seeing his downward header bounce over bar from point-blank range following Ljungberg's cross just before the interval.
Villa made a bright start to the second half with Carew forcing Lehmann off his line smartly again before Gabriel Agbonlahor's header from Young's dangerous cross was well saved.
The lively Aliadiere had a chance at the other end, but seemed to snatch at his chance and ended up dragging his left-footed shot wide of Sorenson's near post.
Diaby proved luck was on his side on the night when a cross struck his thigh and only superb positioning from Ljungberg on the line prevented the midfielder scoring at both ends.
Arsene Wenger opted to freshen things up after the chances dried up, bringing on Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky for goal-scorer Diaby and Baptista.
The introduction of Patrik Berger gave Villa impetus although it was Sorensen who had to be on guard to block Rosicky's left-footed shot from outside the area.
Despite having the better of the second half, Martin O'Neill's charges failed to make the all-important breakthrough and slipped to their 10th league defeat of the season. -
arse-nal win lucky lor......villa should've got at least a point.......ref kayu!!!