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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3><DIV class=mxb><DIV class=sh>Aston Villa v Arsenal </DIV></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><DIV>
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Villa Park
Wednesday, 14 March
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
<HR>
Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill is set to be recalled, replacing ankle injury victim Martin Laursen.
Striker Luke Moore is pushing for a recall after scoring four goals in as many reserve games since recovering from a shoulder problem.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
ASTON VILLA face Arsenal in only their second match in a month, eager to register a third victory in six Premiership games, after 11 straight League outings without a maximum.
This is the 14th League fixture against London opposition for the top division's joint draw specialists - eight of the previous 13 have finished all square.
Villa have not beaten Arsenal in 16 Premiership matches since the 3-2 home victory on 13 December 1998, when a brace from Dion Dublin and a goal from Julian Joachim were enough for all three points. Since then the Midlanders have drawn five and lost 11 against the Gunners.
ARSENAL return to League business after being knocked out of all three Cup competitions in 11 days. Manager Arsene Wenger will want three points from his 400th Premiership match in charge, which would see the Gunners leapfrogging Liverpool, and still have a game in hand on the Merseysiders. Indeed a draw would be sufficient to return to third place.
The north Londoners are on a six-match unbeaten League run, and head the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points from the possible 18.
The reverse fixture was Arsenal's Premiership curtain-raiser at the Emirates Stadium. Theo Walcott came off the bench to help Arsenal secure a 1-1 draw. Olof Mellberg headed Villa in front early in the second half, and Gilberto netted at the far post six minutes from time, following good work from the teenager on his debut.
<DIV class=ch1>REFEREE </DIV>
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire) <DIV class=arr></DIV>
<DIV class=ch1>SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM </DIV>
ASTON VILLA
<DIV class=arr><DIV class=arr></DIV>13th 33 points
Highest achievable: 12th
Lowest could realistically fall: 13th </DIV>
1. The last three Premiership matches have resulted in a win, a loss and a draw.
2. Need three more goals to total 700 in the Premier League, all time.
3. The joint Premiership's draw specialists with Fulham. Both have finished level in 12 matches.
4. Used 30 players in top flight games this term - the joint highest.
5. The current tally of 33 points after 28 games is the club's lowest to this stage for nine years.
6. Two more home fixtures against the Merseyside clubs follow this, Liverpool and Everton, before a visit to Blackburn.
ARSENAL
<DIV class=arr></DIV>4th 52 points
Highest achievable: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 4th
1. Chasing a third successive win in the Premiership.
2. Yet to lose a League game in 2007.
3. Won five and drawn one of the last six League games, since losing 1-0, away to Sheffield United on 30 December.
4. Lost one of the last 13 top flight games.
5. Drawn 99 Premiership matches under Arsene Wenger.
6. Scored 50 goals in the top table - only Machester United have netted more (66).
7. Completed 45 League games since a goalless draw - the longest current such sequence of any club in the Premiership. The last goalless stalemate was home
</DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Villa Park
Wednesday, 14 March
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
<HR>
Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill is set to be recalled, replacing ankle injury victim Martin Laursen.
Striker Luke Moore is pushing for a recall after scoring four goals in as many reserve games since recovering from a shoulder problem.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
ASTON VILLA face Arsenal in only their second match in a month, eager to register a third victory in six Premiership games, after 11 straight League outings without a maximum.
This is the 14th League fixture against London opposition for the top division's joint draw specialists - eight of the previous 13 have finished all square.
Villa have not beaten Arsenal in 16 Premiership matches since the 3-2 home victory on 13 December 1998, when a brace from Dion Dublin and a goal from Julian Joachim were enough for all three points. Since then the Midlanders have drawn five and lost 11 against the Gunners.
ARSENAL return to League business after being knocked out of all three Cup competitions in 11 days. Manager Arsene Wenger will want three points from his 400th Premiership match in charge, which would see the Gunners leapfrogging Liverpool, and still have a game in hand on the Merseysiders. Indeed a draw would be sufficient to return to third place.
The north Londoners are on a six-match unbeaten League run, and head the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points from the possible 18.
The reverse fixture was Arsenal's Premiership curtain-raiser at the Emirates Stadium. Theo Walcott came off the bench to help Arsenal secure a 1-1 draw. Olof Mellberg headed Villa in front early in the second half, and Gilberto netted at the far post six minutes from time, following good work from the teenager on his debut.
<DIV class=ch1>REFEREE </DIV>
Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire) <DIV class=arr></DIV>
<DIV class=ch1>SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM </DIV>
ASTON VILLA
<DIV class=arr><DIV class=arr></DIV>13th 33 points
Highest achievable: 12th
Lowest could realistically fall: 13th </DIV>
1. The last three Premiership matches have resulted in a win, a loss and a draw.
2. Need three more goals to total 700 in the Premier League, all time.
3. The joint Premiership's draw specialists with Fulham. Both have finished level in 12 matches.
4. Used 30 players in top flight games this term - the joint highest.
5. The current tally of 33 points after 28 games is the club's lowest to this stage for nine years.
6. Two more home fixtures against the Merseyside clubs follow this, Liverpool and Everton, before a visit to Blackburn.
ARSENAL
<DIV class=arr></DIV>4th 52 points
Highest achievable: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 4th
1. Chasing a third successive win in the Premiership.
2. Yet to lose a League game in 2007.
3. Won five and drawn one of the last six League games, since losing 1-0, away to Sheffield United on 30 December.
4. Lost one of the last 13 top flight games.
5. Drawn 99 Premiership matches under Arsene Wenger.
6. Scored 50 goals in the top table - only Machester United have netted more (66).
7. Completed 45 League games since a goalless draw - the longest current such sequence of any club in the Premiership. The last goalless stalemate was home
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