Master v apprentice: Will Garde gloom deepen because of Wenger?

A point at Southampton last time out, though from a half-time winning position, means Garde is yet to win a game in four attempts. It doesn’t get any easier for him, but Villa taking a share of the spoils from this Arsenal encounter at 14/5 is what he should aim for.

Giroud goals give Gunners cutting edge

Widespread praise for Wenger getting his tactics in Greece spot on to keep Arsenal in Europe saw Olivier Giroud hit his first Arsenal hat-trick. While odds of 20/1 for him to repeat that at Villa Park may be fanciful, two or more is certainly a safer bet at 5/1.

Likely to be marking the Gunners’ French frontman is ex-England international Joleon Lescott and, despite occupying the Premier League basement, he is confident of pulling off a great escape.

“If we do avoid the drop – and I’m very confident we can – it would be one of my greatest achievements,” left-footed defender Lescott told local radio. “We believe we can go on and get some results.”

How will Grealish gambit go for Garde?

The decision taken by Garde to suspend Villans prospect Jack Grealish from first-team affairs – following an unauthorised night out in Manchester after the Everton defeat – and make him train with the youth team for a fortnight earned widespread praise.

Steve Frogatt was once a bright young thing in the West Midlands, and the former Villain stressed today’s squad cannot rely on an emerging talent alone. “He’s a kid – you can’t pin your Premier League survival on a kid,” he said of Grealish. “I’m hoping we see a different Jack but with the same qualities with the ball.

“I’m really hoping a spell on the ‘naughty step’ has taught him a bit of humility. He needs to learn he has to behave off the pitch and that it’s maybe not as easy as he thought and that he needs to roll his sleeves up and fight – then everybody will be happy.”

How will Grealish respond to being dropped? He’s 7/2 to knuckle down for Garde and grab a goal against the Gunners anytime.

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