Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Title race hots up
In possibly the most intriguing game of the festive season, third plays fourth as Arsenal host Aston Villa.
Arsenal are still missing a number of players for this match although the situation is easing now a number of doubts, including Cesc Fabregas, means that there is the potential for a severely weakened line-up. But after the 3-0 win over Hull last week, surely Arsenal will not pass up the opportunity to move to just four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand? But these crunch matches have been tricky for Arsenal this season - beating Spurs and Liverpool but losing to Man City, Man United and Chelsea - so it is not always safe to assume that Arsenal will exploit home advantage. Make no mistake a win here would be a marker in the title race - but defeat could signal lesser mountains will be climbed.
Both teams will have been boosted by yesterday's results to teams immediately around them, with Spurs and Chelsea drawing. But for Villa the Manchester City and Liverpool wins will have felt a little ominous - Liverpool have a proven squad and City have the money to buy anyone and both are likely to finish the season strongly. As a result Villa need to maintain a solid gap over the other Champions' League contenders who are currently out of the top four. This game is not a bad one for Villa though, they are a team that is set up for the counter-attack and after winning at Old Trafford, more comfortably than the scoreline suggested, will not feel intimidated at The Emirates. A win for Villa would put them second, four points off the top, ahead of the late kick-off - and Villa are unbeaten in their last three visits to The Emirates.
For Villa to be a result away from second place at the half-way mark of the season is a tremendous achievement but will they maintain their form through the second half of the season this time?
Arsenal vs Aston Villa; Kick Off 1:30pm 27 Dec 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : 2 - 0
Chris Cox : 3 - 2
Graham Enwright : 2 - 1
Sue Gardener : 3 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 1
Don McMahon : 2 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : 1 - 2
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 2
Isaac Williams : 2 - 1
Mark Williams : 1 - 0
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-1 Arsenal win.
Home: 11; Draw: 3; Away: 2; TBC: 4.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
