Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 23rd February K/o: 15:00
Team News
Arsenal will be without right-back Bacary Sagna who is out with a knee injury sustained in the defeat to Bayern Munich midweek, while Kieran Gibbs is also out with a thigh injury. January signing Nacho Monreal returns having been cup-tied midweek, however. Aston Villa welcome back Gabriel Agbonlahor and Karim El Ahmadi after the duo missed the victory over West Ham through illness, and Charles N'Zogbia has overcome a thigh injury he sustained in that match.
Match Preview
This has been one of the most tumultuous weeks under the reign of Arsene Wenger at the Emirates in recent times. Two consecutive home defeats first to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup and then to Bayern Munich in the Champions League have left Arsenal on the brink of an eighth successive season without a trophy. Considering the Gunners are so far off the pace in the title race, there appears to be very little but fourth place to fight for this season, starting with fellow strugglers Aston Villa. Paul Lambert's side are having an equally as joyless season this term, and have found themselves hauled into a relegation scrap having won only two of their last 10 league games and have only gained two points from losing positions - the worst record in the division. There is a worrying feeling that Villa could find themselves on the wrong end of a hiding similar to the 8-0 thrashing they took against Chelsea in December as Wenger's scorned men seek something of a backlash following the most miserable of weeks, however, Villa have twice won at Arsenal in their last four league trips and fought out a goalless draw back in November.
Likely Line-Ups
Arsenal Szczesny, Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Cazorla, Arteta, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Walcott, Podolski
Aston Villa Guzan, Lowton, Clark, Lichaj, Vlaar, Holman, Bannan, Westwood, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Benteke Source:
BBC