Arsenal welcome bottom of the league Aston Villa to the Emirates for the final game of quite an indifferent season. Arsenal can finish anywhere between 2nd and 4th, but the prize of another St. Totteringham’s day will prove tempting for many of the players.
Last Sunday’s draw at the Etihad Stadium showed a lot of Arsenal’s best and worst qualities. Conceding tow goals from outside the box due to insufficient pressure, but simultaneously using Giroud as a target man brilliantly. One devastating outcome of the game was the news that Danny Welbeck may be out for 9 months after coming off injured. Villa, meanwhile, have scored more lately but are still without any sort of result away from home, having lost six games on the road in a row.
Arsenal are likely to switch up the lineup to ensure that players such as Flamini, Arteta and Rosicky, who will likely leave the club this Summer, get a last outing. Giroud should continue to lead the line and we may even see Walcott on the right. It’s also important for Jack Wilshere to perform well, as he did against City, in order to secure a place in England’s Euro squad. As we are at home, we may be seen without any sort of defensive midfielder for the first time in a while.
Arsenal’s most dangerous player could be Mesut Ozil. Left out last week with a hip injury, he is set to return with eyes on breaking Henry’s assist record.
Villa’s most effective player could be Jordan Ayew. Perhaps the only bright spot in a dismal season, he has still managed to bag in six goals in a team that has only scored 24 overall.
Match facts:
– Arsenal are now undefeated in 9 games.
– Arsenal have succesfully kept four clean sheets in the last four Arsenal – Aston Villa games.
Team news:
– Ozil is set to return, but Welbeck, having undergone surgery, is set to be out for several months. Cazorla may be fit to start after playing 62 minutes in the U21 game on Tuesday. Per Mertesacker and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are still sidelined.
– Kieran Richardson is a heavy doubt for the game, but Aly Cissokho may return.
Predicted XI:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Berllerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Cazorla, Wilshere; Walcott, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud
Aston Villa (3-5-2): Guzan; Bacuna, Lescott, Clark; Hutton, Gueye, Carlos Sanchez, Westwood, Cissokho; Ayew, Gestede
