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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Arsenal vs Aston Villa. Premier League.

Emirates StadiumAttendance60,023.

Arsenal 1

  • R van Persie (89th minute)

Aston Villa 2

  • D Bent (11th minute, 15th minute)

Arsenal v Aston Villa preview

Image: Wenger: Questions to be answered

Arsenal still have much to play for when they host Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Watch Sunday's match live on Sky Sports HD1

Arsenal still have much to play for when they host Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, live on Sky Sports HD1. The Gunners have yet to wrap up third spot in the Premier League and now have Manchester City breathing down their necks, only two points behind in fourth. While Arsene Wenger's men are assured of UEFA Champions League football next season, finishing the campaign in fourth would force them to tackle the final qualifying round of the competition in order to book their place in the group stage. And Wenger is under pressure to pacify restless supporters after the club followed their scalp of Manchester United with a shocking showing at Stoke City that saw the visitors lose 3-1. That result sees the Gunners having recorded just the two wins from their last 11 matches in all competitions. Mathematically, Villa could actually still be relegated, but the odds of such a situation happening are close to nil. Villa are six points above the drop zone with two matches to play whilst they boast a stronger goal difference to that of the likes of Blackpool and Wigan Athletic. Gary McAllister remains in charge of the club in light of manager Gerard Houllier's recovery from health problems and the Scot could fancy an upset, as Villa have a decent record at the Emirates. Arsenal are set to be boosted by the return of defender Thomas Vermaelen to first-team action, the Belgian having not played for the club since August due to an Achilles problem. Laurent Koscielny is out with a thigh strain, but Gael Clichy is back while Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri face fitness tests to prove their availability. Jean Makoun looks set to be Villa's only absentee through injury.
Possible starting XIs:
Arsenal: Sczeszny, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin. Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Dunne, Collins, Walker, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, A Young, Bent, Agbonlahor.

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