Boxing Day Fixture: Aston Villa v Arsenal

Boxing Day Fixture: Aston Villa v Arsenal

Already billed as the "fight for fourth", this fixture will go a long way to demonstrate just how serious Aston Villa are about challenging the top 4. If they win, it will cement their spot as the only team even capable of breaking up the top 4.

According to manager Martin O'Neill, a victory would give Villa a massive psychological edge: "If we could win the game it would give us a major psychological boost. It would an amazing double if we could beat them at home as we defeated them at their place."
Although defeat for Arsenal would not render them out of the title race, they know they need to win to have any realistic hope of the title. Just as importantly, they need to win to help erase the defeat to Villa in November. A draw is probably the most likely result, and this would be better for Villa than Arsenal.

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal Teams News

Captain Cesc Fabregas returns from a knee injury to the Arsenal line-up for the match against Middlesbrough. Others who return include Clichy, Van Persie, and Adeabayor.

Eduardo's Comeback

After a frustrating 10 months, Eduardo is finally due to make his competitive comeback for Arsenal. The striker fractured his left fibula and suffered an open dislocation of his left ankle on 23 Feb in the game against Birmingham City, and will now play in a reserve game against Portsmouth on 16 Dec.

The 25-year-old Croatian has undergone intensive rehabilitation since his horrific injury, and had to watch from the sidelines as his country played in the European Championships in the summer. However, his recovery is almost now complete. Manager Arsene Wenger said last week: "He is joining in full training matches but needs games now."

His return will come as a significant boost to Wenger's team, who need some positive news, having fallen 8 points behind leaders, Liverpool, at the top of the table. This could just be the Christmas present that Arsenal fans have wanted.