Robin Van Persie has come through his fitness tests and will be available for selection, you would think that a fit Van Persie has to start his road to match fitness at some time and could Villa park be the time to bring him back, especially when you lose the quality of Cesc Fabregas
Rosicky couldn't make the difference when he came on at the weekend but hopefully he will be raring to go probably from the left attacking position. He is more than due a goal and I am backing him to get his name on the score sheet at some
Samir Nasri played 90 minutes for France on Wednesday but in current form he simply cannot be left out, he is our best attacking player at the moment and will almost certainly be restored to his wide right forward role. Arshavin played the full 90 minutes for Russia on the same day but I am not sure if Wenger will start him
After suffering from a a calf problem against Newcastle, he has rested and should be fresh. If he can jump straight into the pace of the game then he could be a valuable player for us. He will be up against Leighton Baines so that should be an interesting contest
The manager has said that we will see a different Cesc tonight and I am taking his word for it. Cesc is our string puller, the player who connects the whole team together, the player who can single handedly split the opposition to shreds and we have not seen him at this best for some weeks now
I think Jack Wilshere could well be key figure in his first domestic game since we put Birmingham City to the sword. He will have his work cut out with the likes of Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan going in for 50-50's
Bendtner has come back in good form and looks sharp. If he gets a start then fingers crossed that he can take it and add to his goals tally
Samir Nasri more than often plays his best for Arsenal when he is playing in Cesc Fabregas' position but when the captain comes back into the team, Nasri gets pushed back to the wide position. Both Cesc and Nasri have not played more than a couple of games together in a three man midfield
Wojciech Szczesny has been itching in his pants for a first team start, so much so that he couldn't help but to shout out in frustration in recent weeks about his lack of pitch time. With Wenger sending Mannone on loan to Hull City, it is Szczesny's chance to show what he can do and become our cup keeper. He spoke very well in his pre match interview and said that nerves will not be a problem as he does not suffer from them. Good lad
The mercurial Russian has been playing somewhat under the radar this season, scoring five goals and creating goal scoring opportunities for fun. Yet you feel there is plenty to come from him. After being replaced with twenty minutes to go against Birmingham last Saturday then only playing for the last 18 on Tuesday you would feel that he has sufficient energy in his legs to give 100% when the kick off starts at 4pm