One game for Arsenal that does not have too much riding on it against an already relegated and woefully out of form Aston Villa side is not all that important in the grand scheme of things, but having said that we still want Arsenal to win it.
It is not a completely dead rubber after all as the Gunners do need to make sure that we don’t have to play two nervy and unwanted games at the start of next season in order to secure a place in the Champions League group phase, and unlikely it may be there is still an outside chance of finishing above Tottenham in the Premier League table, which Arsene Wenger admits is only of value to us fans as bragging rights but still a worthwhile goal at that.
I do think that there is another good reason for Arsenal to play well and beat Aston Villa today, however. It is a bit like the importance of going into an international break during the season after a good performance and result, only much more so. A quality showing from the lads today will make us and them feel a lot better about things in the coming weeks and months and who knows what difference that could make?
A fluent and flowing Arsenal today could be just what the fans and players need to start to put the disappointment of this season behind us and that is why I think the boss will start with the creative talents of Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil in the centre, as he suggested in the pre-match press conference on Arsenal Player by stating that both are fit and ready to go.
We want to take this game to Villa and make their heads spin, thus giving the Emirates crowd a good reason to cheer and go home happy. Surely Wenger knows that this is no time for caution, so will he slip the shackles and allow our creative players to have the freedom to do what Arsenal do best?
Bob.