After a wonderful offensive display against Manchester City last time out at Etihad, the Gunners will now be welcoming the relegated side Aston Villa this Sunday.
Arsenal came from behind to equalize the game twice, and it was Alexis Sanchez’s strike which gave the Gunners a well-deserved point. With the last premier league fixture to show for this Sunday, Arsenal will be welcoming the already relegated side, Aston Villa.
Furthermore, Villa in their last premier league game were able to hold Newcastle United for a goal less draw, and the result confirmed the Magpies relegation as well. Arsenal are not showing the spirit in their recent games as they have won just 2 out of their last 6 games and have drawn 4.
Wenger’s side are hoping to steal second place from Tottenham Hotspur with a win against Villans and the Frenchman believes Wilshere should also be selected for England’s UEFA Euro 2016 campaign despite a lack of match time.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Team News-
Arsenal will be missing three star man from the squad, namely, Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee, Aug), Mertesacker (hamstring, Aug), Welbeck (knee, Feb)
With Wilshere back in the team, it will be an interesting sight to see how Wenger will line his midfield.
For the visitors; Amavi (knee, unknown) will be missing while, the club is still in doubts over Veretout (pelvis), Richardson (calf), Agbonlahor (match fitness), Hutton (knock), Clark (knock)
Predicted Lineup-
Arsenal-
Cech
Bellerin; Gabriel; Koscielny; Monreal
Sanchez; Elneny; Cazorla; Iwobi; Ozil
Giroud
Aston Villa-
Bunn
Hutton; Richards; Clark; Toner
Ayew; Gueye; Sanchez; Westwood; Sinclair
Gestede
Stats-
- Arsenal have averaged 1.5 goals per game scored at home this season in the Barclays Premier League, their lowest return since 1994-95 (1.3).
- Aston Villa have lost nine of their last 11 meetings with the Gunners in all competitions (W1 D1).
- Arsenal have scored 14 goals without reply in the last four meetings in all competitions with Aston Villa.
- Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his last five appearances against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- The Villans have won none of their last 17 Premier League away games, losing 14 in that run. Their only win this season on the road so far was on the opening day against Bournemouth.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 games on the final day of the season (W8 D2). The last team to beat them on the final day of a Premier League season was Birmingham City in 2005.
- Aston Villa have scored just seven goals in their last 14 Premier League road trips.
Stats via Eurosport
Tactics-
Though Aston Villa have struggled a lot this season, the team is never short of attacking options. Villans launch their attacks through their full backs who are well capable of making a strong forward run. While their midfield seems to defend deep and the team usually goes with Carlos Sanchez’s distribution. The 30-year-old Colombian professional is responsible for distribution of the ball to the flanks.
Besides Sanchez, Gueye has impressed since joining from Lille last summer, and has made the second-highest number of tackles and second-highest number of interceptions in the Premier League this season, behind Leicester’s N’Golo Kante.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will be trying to exploit Villans with their clever one-two passes. With Welbeck and Mertesacker out injured, the team doesn’t really have a very good header of the ball and therefore, Giroud will be the target man in all of their set pieces.
Prediction-
A win for Arsenal would take them to the second spot and Wenger will be hoping to grab the opportunity on the first place. Villa has nothing to lose in the fixture and hence, a loss will not be a very major blow for the side. Arsenal are the clear winners here.
4-0 Arsenal