Match Preview - Arsenal vs Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal have remained unbeaten in 8 of their last 9 Premier League clashes with Aston Villa

The Gunners take on the Villains at the Emirates Stadium in the first matchweek of the Premier League 2013/14 campaign. Lack of transfer activity for the past couple of months could be a thing to worry for Arsenal fans.

The only player who has come in the transfer window so far is the Frenchman Yaya Sanogo. Although there are 17 days to go for the deadline day, injuries have hampered the current Arsenal squad. With the likes of Arshavin, Gervinho and Coquelin departing from the Emirates, the current squad looks very thin.

On the other hand, Aston Villa have brought in some quality players such as Antonio Luna and Aleksandar Tonev. Paul Lambert did a great job by retaining the services of Christian Benteke. The Belgian signed a long term contract to stay at the Villa Park despite being in-demand.

Aston Villa’s record for the opening day fixtures of the Premier League is poor compared to Arsenal. Both teams have played 21 opening day fixtures each. Aston Villa’s record for the opener is – P21 W6 L8 D7. The Gunners’ record for the opener is – P21 W12 L3 D6.

In all their last 12 opening Premier League games (W8 D4), Arsenal have remained unbeaten, though their last 3 were drawn.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert told his club’s official website: “We will go at the Emirates & give it everything. There’s two ways to go – you’re either frightened by it or you go and try to win. I will do the latter because that’s the way I have been brought up. It’s the way I have brought the team up to go and try to win.”

Arsene Wenger in club’s official matchday program said: “If you analyse the quality, we have good players. Eleven internationals will start against Aston Villa and we will have internationals on the bench. That is, for me, what counts.”

Team News (injuries):

• Arsenal: Vermaelen (back), Monreal (back), Arteta (thigh), Ryo (rib), Diaby (knee)
• Aston Villa: Herd (doubt – calf), Sylla (ankle)

Provisional Squads:

• Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud, Fabianski, Podolski, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Rosicky, Gnabry, Sanogo
• Aston Villa: Guzan, Given, Baker, Bennett, Vlaar, Okore, Clark, Luna, Lowton, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Westwood, Delph, Herd, Sylla, Gardner, Tonev, N’Zogbia, Bannan, Helenius, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery.

Match Appointments

• Referee: Anthony Taylor.
• Assistants: H Lennard, M McDonough.
• Fourth Official: A D’Urso.

Opta STATS:

• Arsenal have remained unbeaten in 8 of their last 9 Premier League clashes with Aston Villa, losing only 1. (W5 D3)
• Aston Villa won more points (21) away from home than they did at home (20) in the 2012/13 Premier League.
• Aston Villa have won 2 of their last 19 trips to London to face Arsenal, but both of these have come since Arsenal moved to the Emirates.
• Only Chelsea have won more away Premier League games at the Emirates (3) than Aston Villa (2)
• Aston Villa have won just 1 point from their last 7 Premier League away trips to London.
• Aston Villa have played their opening fixture away from Villa Park 12 times in the Premier League era & have only won once; 1-0 at Newcastle in 1999. (D7 L4)
• Arsenal finished last season with a 10-game unbeaten run (W8 D2) and lost just one of their last 16 fixtures.
• Emirates Stadium saw more goals than any other stadium in the Premier League last season (70)
• Christian Benteke scored 40 per cent of Aston Villa’s Premier League goals last season; a higher proportion than any other player for their side.