Aston Villa vs Arsenal: There's a slim chance we'll get a result against the Gunners

FANS' VIEW: Supporters of both clubs preview the match at Villa Park

Olivier Giroud is congratulated by his Arsenal team-mates (GETTY IMAGES)

Aston Villa - Crippy Cooke

Coming off the back of a credible draw against Southampton, while a tired Arsenal side will be racking up the air miles from their latest Champions League excursion, there’s a slim chance we can get a result against the Gunners on Sunday.

Arsenal haven’t lost at Villa Park since 1998, but come into this weekend’s meeting having failed to win four of their last six away outings in all competitions. However, this year we have lost 5-0 and 4-0 to the Gunners in the league and FA Cup respectively.

There’s also the matter of keeping their danger men quiet. Assist-king Mesut Ozil is devastating with five yards of space and Olivier Giroud can outmuscle any defender to convert balls into the box. We need to limit the space in the central areas by staying compact and hard to play through without the ball.

If we can counter Arsenal, the big man/little man combination of Rudy Gestede’s flicking-on balls for Jordan Ayew to chase might be our only way of scoring. For no rhyme or reason, Aston Villa to draw 1-1 with Arsenal on Sunday. Here’s hoping.

Arsenal - Lewis Potton

After a hugely impressive 3-0 win over Olympiakos on Wednesday night, I’m hoping that relegation-threatened Aston Villa will prove a much less nerve-wracking fixture. But with Remi Garde’s side in deep trouble, I sense they will start strong.

Despite the loss of Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez in recent weeks, our attacking options still look impressive. Regulars Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are fit again, while young winger Joel Campbell was hugely impressive in Greece. Olivier Giroud’s form up top combined with Villa’s leaky defence means that Mesut Ozil will also be looking to run riot at Villa Park.

The key man for me will undoubtedly be Ozil though. He has been imperious recently and was at his dizzying best in the Champions League this week. I can see Villa trying to rattle him in midfield, but his calmness of play will be far too much for Remi Garde’s men to contain. I really think Arsenal could punish the home side this weekend, and I confidently predict a 3-0 win… though it could be more especially given Giroud’s hot run of form at the moment.

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