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So, two games left of the season, and we still haven’t mathematically guaranteed our top flight status. Some might argue that to have a swing of 10 goals in two games is a tad unliklely, but then we are facing Arsenal and Liverpool. Both teams are capable of putting a raft of goals past us if our defence plays as badly as it has in several games this year. Disagree? We conceded 6 against a newly promoted Newcastle team. Both Arsenal and Liverpool are far better teams than Newcastle.
Tactics
Ciaran Clark is pushing for a starting place after recovering from a back issue, so we might see him get into the starting XI. With the match being away, and the best chance to win being based on counter attacking, I wouldn’t be surprised if we operated out of 4-5-1 variation, most likely the standard setup rather than the attacking 4-2-3-1.
Following that logic I imagine the team should be:
Friedel / L. Young – Clark – Collins – Walker / Young – Reo-Coker – Delph – Petrov – Downing / Bent
This setup give a solid central midfield with strong focus on the defensive covering abilities of the three in the middle. The other logical option would be to bring Downing into the centre, and put Young and Albrighton on the wings to attack with pace.
Statistics
These statistics are provided by Eurosport.
Aston Villa have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League matches.
Villa have won just one of the last 24 Premier League games against Arsenal, but have only lost once on four trips to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have conceded just two goals in their last nine Premier League games at the Emirates.
Abou Diaby has scored four goals in six Premier League games against Aston Villa.
If Villa win this match, they will have picked more points than any other Premier League team at the Emirates.
There has been a 90th minute goal scored in four of the last six meetings between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
The Gunners have won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
The Emirates is the only stadium in the Premier League that has not seen a single goal scored with a shot from outside the box this season.
Robin van Persie has scored a goal every 99 minutes in the Premier League this season; a better record than any other player to have scored five or more goals.
30 different players have started a Premier League game for Aston Villa this season; a league-high alongside West Ham.
So, on the balance of it, this has a draw written all over it. However, will it be one? What do you think?
The Author
