The good news is that Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue will be included in the squad for Sunday, that is a massive positive. Especially the physical presence of Song at the heart of defence

Match Review – Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0 – Premier League

Before the season started if you would have asked me if I would take a draw at Villa Park whilst they were in the middle of a good run would I have taken it? The answer is a definite yes. It was only a couple of days ago that I said I would gladly take two away draws alongside two home victories during this run of difficult fixtures so I am hardly going to back out now.

As much as we would love to win every single game we play it is simply not possible, well certainly not probable but it is easy to look after the game and think of what might have been. Cesc hitting the post in the first half and Rosicky rattling the crossbar in the second half is about as close as a team gets to scoring without putting the ball in the back of the net.

The performance was a bit of a mixed bag overall, we have seen this in the last few weeks. A slow start meant that we couldn’t get into our rhythm and could not play the game we wanted to.

I don’t know if our slow starts is a tactical decision from our manager because we know we can step it up in the second half and carve out chances against tired opposition or if it is a mental hurdle that the team have to overcome.

It is easier said than done to kick off from the first minute and play at your highest level but we have done it before and I would like to see more of it.

Gael Clichy was in for a torrid time defensively as Ashley Young took him on every time he received the ball. We cannot judge Clichy at this moment as he is still in search of his match sharpness. Remember back to his long term injury that kept him out of the team during the same time period that Ashley Cole spent out. Gael came back into the first time in the place of the departed Cole and his first few games were far below the required level at Arsenal. After games and sharpness he developed into the leagues best left back during the 2007/2008 season.

This is the current problem that Arsene has at this time. He has players like Clichy, Walcott, Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby and Sol Campbell who may be fresh enough for the run in but will be lacking the games that allow you to play to your best. This cannot be understated and is easily ignored by fans. Look at the form players in the league and I would be astonished if any of those players had just returned from a long absence.

The center back partnership has finally been broken up, injury finally catching up to one of them. We all feared for the worst when Wenger announced that it could have been a fracture but luckily it is not too bad. Sol Campbell rolled back the years and showed that he still has plenty left in that big tank frame of his. His power in the air is quite frightening, if Tommy V doesn’t heal before Sunday I hope Sol can take another deep breath in and have another go against Manchester United.

The second half performance was much better from Arsenal, I thought we showed signs of great attacking play. Many times our decisive pass or shot wasn’t quite there but if that is a warm up for Sunday then I will be happy. Arshavin started coming off the wing and running at the heart of Villa, Rosicky and Cesc combined well with him but just not enough to force the goal.

Villa played well as they often do at home. Stuart Downing missed a great header to put them ahead, the type of header that we have conceded over the years to the likes of Stelios formally of Bolton, Heskey gives me hope that I could still play Premier League football.

Nicklas Bendtner looked much sharper than I imagined he would. He didn’t make many mistakes and won plenty of aerial balls. I would give him a start on Sunday and if he can improve on his short cameo then the team could have its focal point in attack that has been missed since Van Persie departed on a plane for a friendly for his country.

He really should have been confident enough to have struck the ball on his left when in a good position late in the game, I was stood with my hands on my head. Nasri did it last season at Hull City and Bendtner should have done the same.

Eduardo joins Vermaelen in a slight set back, luckily it is only a slight set back but he will have to hope he doesn’t loose much of his match fitness during his week off.

The good news is that Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue will be included in the squad for Sunday, that is a massive positive. Especially the physical presence of Song at the heart of defence, If Sol is playing on Sunday then he will need Song in front of him and Denilson and return a little further forward. I was hoping to have Diaby back for Sunday but it seems that it will come too short for the leggy box to box midfielder. If given the choice then you would rather he was in the side at Stamford Bridge than at home against Manchester United.

Plenty of football to play, an away draw is nothing to cry about so lets beat Manchester United and drive into to gear from now until may.