Arsenal vs Aston Villa - 5 Key Battles

3. Olivier Giroud vs Ron Vlaar

Olivier Giroud had a solid if unspectacular first season in English football. Failing to score in his first seven games for the club, he proved a good foil for Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott, his strength allowing him to hold the ball up or play a clever through ball, and his ability to provide defensive distractions or chip the ball over the defense allowed more assists than goals for the big Frenchman. If he can out-muscle the Aston Villa captain, Ron Vlaar, then Arsenal will get multiple chances, and after a very strong pre-season in which Giroud has hit eight goals in seven games, it wouldn't be a surprise to see his name on the scoresheet. Standing in his way is Ron Vlaar. A summer 2012 signing from Feyenoord in Holland, the Dutchman proved an astute piece of business, marshaling a young, inexperienced defense and allowing Villa to build from the back. Strong in the tackle and able to out-muscle the best of attacking talent, Vlaar knows how to stop teams from finding holes in the defense, and is a strong and able voice. His one weakness is pace, which although unlikely to be exposed by the bulky figure of Giroud, should he be able to create a chance, Vlaar could be undone by the pace of Theo Walcott or Lukas Podolski.