STRENGTH IN DEPTH? OR IN TOO DEEP?

December is going to be a long slog.. And injuries are coming thick and fast and to key personnel. Robin van Persie is still injured (despite the manager saying he was very close to a return last week), Fabregas is almost certain to be rested, and the ever present Clichy is out too. On the upshot, Flamini returns, so does Gallas and Adebayor will lead the attack. Villa are also without key dangerman Gabby Agbonlahor.

My take on this is after the decent performance in the Champions league Traore will probably play, alternatively Diarra might be pressed into the right-back and Sagna swapped over to cover on the left. The focus of the Villa attack will naturally be the huge frame of John Carew, and the tricky wing play and crosses of Ashley Young. Experience will ideally be required across the back four and Gallas's willpower to win will be a great boost.

Make no mistake we need to win this one! Arsenal have probably been the most injury hit of the Big Four in the last 4-5 weeks and we have been haemorrhaging squad players. Manchester United, although they have lost Rooney, have failed to rest most of their squad and the packed fixture list will put us back into an advantageous position over December, if we can build a 6 point lead on them - an opportunity that shouldn't be squandered.

If I were Wenger my squad to face Villa would be something like this:

-----------Almunia

Diarra---Kolo----Gallas----Sagna

Eboue/Walcott--Denilson---Flamini---Rosicky

--------Ade-------Eduardo

I'd go for experience in defence, Diarra is a very good Right Back although not his preferred position. Sagna can play Left Back and is basically a very good defender. I'd plum for Walcott or start with Eboue, and put Walcott on if we lack penetration. I think if we play Eduardo he should come in as a striker NOT a Right Winger/Forward..which he is clearly not. I've deliberatly gone for 4-4-2 but suspect the manager might bring in Gilberto and go 4-5-1.