Villa Preview: Rosicky’s back but many others are out 14 March, 2007

Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News, Premiership.
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Flamini, Hoyte and Rosicky all return for tonight’s trip to Birmingham but there are plenty of absentees. Henry we know is out for the season and Van Persie is a while away. To add to that there’s Hleb, Toure, Eboue, Adebayor and Clichy who are all either injured or suspended.

I think the back 5 will be Lehmann in goal, Hoyte at right back, Djourou and Gilberto in the middle and Gallas at left back. Then in midfield I would personally go for Rosicky on the left wing, Fabregas and Diaby/Denilson in the middle and then Ljungberg on the right. Up from we’ve got no other choice except Baptista and Aliadiere but they do quite well together.

It’s quite a makeshift side but I think it’s definitely one that should beat Aston Villa. If we seriously want that second place we’ve got to take all three points in these sort of games.

It’s not on TV. I’m not sure how I’m going to follow it. Hopefully it will be on the radio or I might try an internet stream. For those of you who have it it’s on Arsenal TV Online.

There’ll be a match report in the morning as always.

There was a little bit of news today. Wenger says he might look at ‘super, super class’ players. It’s unlike Wenger to go for big money, big name signings but he says he might be tempted in the summer. Here’s what he said:

“It will be maybe one or two – maximum. And then only super, super-class because we have what is needed. If someone is available I would always try to improve my team but the basis is inside the club. Of course it’s frustrating but as well it is promising because we are five to six years younger than everyone else. I know that people want ‘here and now’ – we live in a society of ‘here and now’ – but unfortunately unless we have massive amounts of money we have to be patient. And I feel we are not far away from the other teams.”

So what he’s really saying is there’ll be a couple of signings and then only players that are better than the current lot. However he then says we haven’t got a great deal to spend, so really he’s not targeting ‘super, super-class’ players at all.

The main target in the summer should be a ‘keeper, Lehmann looks like he’s leaving but he’s getting old anyway now. However, Wenger believes Jens will sign a new contract. As much as I like Lehmann, his best years are past him. Last season he was immense and this season too he’s made some great saves. Whether or the mad German is guarding our goal next season or not I don’t know, but I do think we need to start looking at the future.

Enjoy the game however you manage to watch it.