Analysis:

Arsenal can get back to the top of the Premier League if they can get all three points in this match against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Both sides will make a number of changes after being involved in the FA Cup last weekend. While Arsenal are chasing for the title, Villa on the other hand will want to get into a UEFA Champions League spot.

Martin O'Neill's team advanced in the cup against League One Brighton with a 3-2 victory, but the same can not be said for Arsenal, as Wenger's side were beaten 3-1 by Stoke.

Now when Villa enters this match they will want to forget the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium which happened a month ago. Back then it was Cesc Fabregas who came off the bench to rip the Midlands outfit to shreds in an 18-minute blitz ending their eight-match unbeaten run.

Since that defeat, Villa have been beaten in the league by Liverpool and they could only managed a draw against lowly West Ham, leaving them seventh in the table and five points off fourth-place Spurs. However, Villa still have two games in hand.

Thus, a win for Aston Villa would see them move above Liverpool and Manchester City, although they will have to be in their element against an Arsenal side unbeaten in the league since November coming into this match.

As for the team news, Brad Friedel, Carlos Cuellar, Richard Dunne, James Milner, Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor are all expected to return to the starting line-up after being left out in their last match against Brighton. Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov is struggling to shake off an Achilles injury, but he could figure after being an unused substitute at the weekend.

Left-back Stephen Warnock (shin), midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker (ankle) and striker John Carew (knee) are all out, while Curtis Davies played 50 minutes in the cup and could start from the bench.

Arsenal will be boosted by the news that Bacary Sagna is available after a shoulder injury. Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner is expected to start on the bench after returning from a long lay off from injury. The 23-year-old has been out for three months and has overcome a groin problem and a hernia operation.

We could see the likes of defenders Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas and Gael Clichy will all return after being rested against Stoke. Samir Nasri has been suffering with a hamstring problem but he makes the squad, although Abou Diaby is still out with a calf injury.

Robin van Persie, Keiran Gibbs and Johann Djourou are long-term absentees, while Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue are expected to return from African Cup of Nations duty sometime this week.

Villa will be hoping to get the win here and complete beating the big four sides, a feat only ever achieved twice before, by themselves in 1992-93 and by Leeds in 1994-95.

Take Aston Villa to win this match.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Pick :

Aston Villa 1-0

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Aston Villa to win here.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Aston Villa and accept the 1/4 ball here.