Arsenal vs Aston Villa - FA Cup 4th Round Preview
January 27th 2012 20:30
Arsenal play Aston Villa on Sunday in an FA Cup 4th round tie that will be broadcast live on ESPN here in the UK.
Arsenal got to the 4th round thanks to Thierry Henry's winner against Leeds at the Emirates in Round 3, but will face tougher opponents this time around. Aston Villa have only lost once since Christmas, and won 3-1 at Bristol Rovers to book their place in the 4th round.
Funnily enough, these two sides met just before Christmas at Villa Park. Arsenal emerged victorious, thanks to goals from Robin Van Persie and Yossi Benayoun. Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in Premier League history, but that was the only bright part of an otherwise disappointing game from Villa's point of view.
Arsene Wenger is playing the waiting game on Thierry Henry's fitness, and hasn't decided yet whether he will be fit enough to face Villa on Sunday. If he does feature at all, I'd expect it to be from the bench. Not only has he had an injury, but the guy is 34, so it's unlikely to see him starting many games, even in the cup during his loan spell. If Arsene Wenger decides to rest Robin Van Persie for this cup tie, I would assume the only other option left is Korean striker Ju Young Park. I say this in confidence because Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are still at the African Cup of Nations, which could leave Park the only option with Henry unfit and Van Persie rested.
I have been reading on the Arsenal website that Wenger is 'Gunning for the Cup this year'. So potentially that could mean Van Persie will start. We'll have to see. I hope he does take the Cup seriously. I stated in my Leeds preview that this competition is the one for me. You can have your Champions League's and your World Cup's, but nothing beats the magic of the FA Cup for me, and of course, if we could see Robin lifting that trophy in May, then it would be amazing. Of course, I'm only dreaming. I can't see us ending our trophy drought this year unfortunately.
In other team news, Francis Coquelin is available again after a hamstring injury, Mikel Arteta (along with Thierry Henry) is "very close to full training" according to Arsene Wenger and Bacary Sagna is back to full training after a lengthy lay off. Kieran Gibbs definitely won't be involved, but is nearing a return it seems. Arsene Wenger has suggested he won't sign a left back now, with the imminent return of full backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs making a move unnecessary in his opinion. Gibbs is a player that is very injury prone, and with Andre Santos out for a while yet, it worries me that Wenger is relying on a man who rarely stays fit.
I think Arsenal might edge this one, but it will certainly be close. It is a tough one to call. Arsenal seem to win 1-0 a lot at the Emirates this season, and have struggled to find the net more than once. I would fancy Villa to get a goal. It really depends on what kind of a team Wenger puts out there. A replay may be on the cards, but I struggle to see Arsenal losing it despite the fact that Villa have an impressive record at the Emirates Stadium. Alex McLeish did lead Birmingham to a surprise 2-1 victory over Wenger's Gunners in last year's Carling Cup Final with Birmingham, and Villa won this fixture in the league last season. However, I will stay loyal to my Gunners and my prediction is 2-1 to Arsenal.
The fans at the game really need to get behind the boys, but if Arsenal struggle, don't be surprised if you hear some boos. As stated earlier, Wenger says he wants to win the Cup this year. That implies that in other years he hasn't wanted to. We've often seen him rest players in the FA Cup in favour of the Premier League and Champions League. It's almost funny how he's having to rely on the FA Cup this year to potentially save his job. Just like last year, getting to that Carling Cup Final and playing his full strength side throughout, in two cups that he has neglected for many years.
I'll be back after the Villa game sometime next week to write my post game thoughts and my pre Bolton, post Bolton and pre Blackburn thoughts. Yes it's a busy week in Arsenal's season. Hopefully by the end of it, Arsenal are through to the next round of the cup, and have some vital points on the board in the league.
Until then, Come on you Gunners!!!
Tom
Arsenal got to the 4th round thanks to Thierry Henry's winner against Leeds at the Emirates in Round 3, but will face tougher opponents this time around. Aston Villa have only lost once since Christmas, and won 3-1 at Bristol Rovers to book their place in the 4th round.
Funnily enough, these two sides met just before Christmas at Villa Park. Arsenal emerged victorious, thanks to goals from Robin Van Persie and Yossi Benayoun. Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in Premier League history, but that was the only bright part of an otherwise disappointing game from Villa's point of view.
Benayoun celebrates his winner at Villa Park back in December.
Arsene Wenger is playing the waiting game on Thierry Henry's fitness, and hasn't decided yet whether he will be fit enough to face Villa on Sunday. If he does feature at all, I'd expect it to be from the bench. Not only has he had an injury, but the guy is 34, so it's unlikely to see him starting many games, even in the cup during his loan spell. If Arsene Wenger decides to rest Robin Van Persie for this cup tie, I would assume the only other option left is Korean striker Ju Young Park. I say this in confidence because Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are still at the African Cup of Nations, which could leave Park the only option with Henry unfit and Van Persie rested.
I have been reading on the Arsenal website that Wenger is 'Gunning for the Cup this year'. So potentially that could mean Van Persie will start. We'll have to see. I hope he does take the Cup seriously. I stated in my Leeds preview that this competition is the one for me. You can have your Champions League's and your World Cup's, but nothing beats the magic of the FA Cup for me, and of course, if we could see Robin lifting that trophy in May, then it would be amazing. Of course, I'm only dreaming. I can't see us ending our trophy drought this year unfortunately.
Wenger is hungry to win his 5th FA Cup as Arsenal's manager this year.
In other team news, Francis Coquelin is available again after a hamstring injury, Mikel Arteta (along with Thierry Henry) is "very close to full training" according to Arsene Wenger and Bacary Sagna is back to full training after a lengthy lay off. Kieran Gibbs definitely won't be involved, but is nearing a return it seems. Arsene Wenger has suggested he won't sign a left back now, with the imminent return of full backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs making a move unnecessary in his opinion. Gibbs is a player that is very injury prone, and with Andre Santos out for a while yet, it worries me that Wenger is relying on a man who rarely stays fit.
Kieran Gibbs is too injury prone for my liking.
I think Arsenal might edge this one, but it will certainly be close. It is a tough one to call. Arsenal seem to win 1-0 a lot at the Emirates this season, and have struggled to find the net more than once. I would fancy Villa to get a goal. It really depends on what kind of a team Wenger puts out there. A replay may be on the cards, but I struggle to see Arsenal losing it despite the fact that Villa have an impressive record at the Emirates Stadium. Alex McLeish did lead Birmingham to a surprise 2-1 victory over Wenger's Gunners in last year's Carling Cup Final with Birmingham, and Villa won this fixture in the league last season. However, I will stay loyal to my Gunners and my prediction is 2-1 to Arsenal.
McLeish's Birmingham shocked Arsenal at Wembley last season in the Carling Cup Final. Can McLeish's new team perform similar heroics?
The fans at the game really need to get behind the boys, but if Arsenal struggle, don't be surprised if you hear some boos. As stated earlier, Wenger says he wants to win the Cup this year. That implies that in other years he hasn't wanted to. We've often seen him rest players in the FA Cup in favour of the Premier League and Champions League. It's almost funny how he's having to rely on the FA Cup this year to potentially save his job. Just like last year, getting to that Carling Cup Final and playing his full strength side throughout, in two cups that he has neglected for many years.
I'll be back after the Villa game sometime next week to write my post game thoughts and my pre Bolton, post Bolton and pre Blackburn thoughts. Yes it's a busy week in Arsenal's season. Hopefully by the end of it, Arsenal are through to the next round of the cup, and have some vital points on the board in the league.
Until then, Come on you Gunners!!!
Tom
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