3 Back But Gabby Out For Villa v Arsenal?

Don`t forget to give the 4th official a nice welcome tomorrow. Yup, first time since he cheated us of a red card to Vidic, we have 'him` coming to Villa. 1, 2, 3 ... CHEAT...!

Gabby Agbonlahor was talking the other day saying how happy he is now he is over his injuries and that he was fighting fit.

Damn.... he`s now ill and might miss the Arsenal game!

Gabby had said: ''I've played 3 games now and I'm feeling fit. I feel as fit as I have all season. I'm raring to go, I feel good now.' Full article: Gabby Raring To Go And Get His Season Started

Now on www.avfc.co.uk Gerard Houllier has admitted they will check on the strikers fitness in the morning.

There are a trio of returnees (is that even a word?) though with John Carew, James Collins and hopefully Jonathan Hogg fit to play a part if called upon.

'At the moment, we are a bit unlucky but the good news is John has been with us practically all week without any problem. He trained the full week. He even played for an hour in the reserves against West Brom on Monday. There is Nathan also. We were also a bit unlucky with Jonathan because he twisted his ankle against Blackburn but fortunately he did the training today.'

He also refuses to moan about the freakish injury run but does admit it has been 'unfortunate`.

"....sometimes it happens and you just have to live with that. It doesn't help if you complain or whine or moan. You want to have a look at it from a positive way. The youngsters, I think, the fact some players cannot play, means they can knock at the door, they have their chance, and this is how sometimes their career starts.'

In a strange way, it might have done him a bit of a favour having to blood in the youngsters, certainly shows a bright future and also that some are ready now!

The Villa boss has also called for a ruthless streak talking to the Official site.

'I'm confident. I trust the players. They enjoy themselves and feel part of it. But we have dropped 12 points from leading positions. That is one fact - whether it was Stoke, Bolton, Tottenham, Fulham or Manchester United. That is where we need to improve, definitely, in terms of maturity because being in a leading position to win, if you drop half of those 12 points we would be on 23 points. I still think this is an area we have to address. Once we have the opportunity to get a result, we need to do what is practically right - avoid silly free kicks, keep possession and keep attacking, because if you sit and if you wait, you are always in danger. You need to be mature and stronger and do the right thing so that you keep the result."

He is also looking to get one over his good friend Arsene Wenger http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2230501,00.html

Houllier pre-match conference: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2231402,00.html

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