Aston Villa v Arsenal

TEAM NEWS

Jack Grealish is in contention for Villa after a two-match absence as punishment for his off-field behaviour.^[5]

Leandro Bacuna and Rudy Gestede are both fit despite picking up knocks last weekend, but captain Micah Richards remains doubtful with a knee injury.

Arsenal report no fresh injuries after their midweek win over Olympiakos.

The Gunners remain without Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Steve Bower: “Arsene Wenger hailed his team’s ‘complete performance’ after their win at Olympiakos.^[6] Arsenal’s next assignment is Aston Villa, who have been teetering on the brink for far too long.

“These are desperate times for Villa, one of seven clubs to have been permanent members of the Premier League – a number which is in severe danger of dwindling to six.

“If Remi Garde – who with Patrick Vieira was jointly Wenger’s first signing for Arsenal in 1996^[7] – has got to grips with Jack Grealish’s playful streak, then so much the better.

“Grealish is young, gifted and back – but better players than him have wasted their talent, and Villa are in no position to indulge him.”

Twitter: @SteveBowercomm ^[8]

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: “I am already working on the January window. We know what we want to do. I feel we will need to improve the team to get more chances (of staying up). Experience is something we need.

“We are going to try to improve the team in the transfer window but we have other games to try to win and I am only focused on that.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Champions League hero Olivier Giroud: “If you look at the number of games and the number of goals, you have to give him credit.

“He’s not only a goalscorer, he’s a guy who puts work in for the team. I think he’s among the best strikers in Europe.

“I believe recently he has come back with an improved game and with his finishing. Wednesday was one of his best performances on all fronts.”

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

With Villa boss Remi Garde against his old Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, this is a case of pupil versus professor and, for me, there is only one winner.

Lawro’s full predictions v Mumford & Sons^[9]

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round’s Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.^[10]

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is their first meeting since last season’s FA Cup final, which Arsenal won 4-0.
• Arsenal scored 12 goals and conceded none in three games against Villa in 2014-15.
• Aston Villa have not beaten Arsenal at Villa Park in 16 league matches since a 3-2 victory in 1998.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa have gone a club record 14 league games without a win (D3, L11).
• Villa are on an eight-match winless streak at home, which equals their longest ever league run.
• They have lost 23 league matches in 2015 and have four more to play before the end of the year. Ipswich hold the Premier League record for defeats in a calendar year, losing 26 games in 1994.
• The Villans have dropped 10 points from leading positions this season, a joint league-high along with Newcastle.
• Brad Guzan has conceded 202 goals since he became Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper at the start of 2012-13, more than any other Premier League goalkeeper over the same period.
• Remi Garde made 31 appearance for Arsenal between 1996-99.

Arsenal

• Arsenal have won only one of their last four league games (D2, L1).
• They have won a league-high 72 points in 2015.
• The Gunners have scored in nine successive league matches.
• Arsenal have lost just two of their last 14 away league games (W10, D2).
• In-form Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his last four appearances against Aston Villa in all competitions. He is one goal away from his 50th in the Premier League.
• Petr Cech has kept 168 clean sheets in the Premier League – just one behind the all-time record holder David James.