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 So here we are, just over half-way through the campaign, and things are spicing up nicely. With the Manchester derby suddenly taking on some meaning and the top four's inconsistency maintaining a wide-open fixture schedule every week. With intriguing races developing for the title, Champions League berths, european places and the relegation spaces, this season is a real treat for the neutral. For those of us emotionally involved, it's traumatic and euphoric in equal doses.
Match of the Week: Aston Villa v Arsenal
It's a case of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object this Wednesday night as top of the table Arsenal, the league's highest scorers visit Martin O Neill's Aston Villa, who hold the league's joint best defensive record.
However, you would be mistaken for thinking that this will be a match of attack versus defense. Villa needed to show all of their attacking prowess in order to see off a plucky Blackburn team in their Carling Cup semi-final second leg, advancing to Wembley after winning a 10 goal thriller 6-4 this past Wednesday.
With a cup final appearance assured Martin O Neill's team are free to concentrate on the league, and their pursuit of a hotly contested fourth place, which brings with it a possible Champions League jackpot.
However, it was at a similar stage to this last season where Villa went on a dramatic loss of form to see them slide from Champions League shoe-ins to barely scraping into the Europa League.
The principal reason for this was down to the lack of depth in the villains squad. However, with addition this year such as Stuart Downing, James Collins and Richard Dunne – who must be a great shout for bargain buy of the season, along with the form of Milner, Agbonlahor and Ashley Young – who are all pushing for summer flights to South Africa, Villa seem far better equipped to go the extra mile this season.
A lot of praise, as ever has been garnished on Arsenal's attack this season, and rightly so. They are the leagues highest goalscorers with 59 strikes and this has been achieved largely without a recognised striker.
However, a lot of the gunners faithful will tell you that the real reason for Arsenal's success this season lies with the centre back pairing of William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen.
In a position where Arsenal have been notoriously weak in recent seasons, Gallas and Vermaelen have played in every minute of every Premier League game so far and have given Arsene Wenger's team the solidity and continuity they have been lacking in defense.
After their come from behind 4-2 victory at home to Bolton, Arsenal moved to the top of the Premiership summit for the first time this season. The test now for Wenger's young team is too see how they will handle the pressure of being the hunted rather than hunting, and this game away to Villa will go a long way to answering that question.
Before this game however, both teams have to contend with FA Cup fourth round games. Villa will likely rest their starters as they host League One Brighton. Wenger too will probably shuffle his pack, but with a tricky looking away tie at Stoke he may have to play a stronger team than he would like.
The head to head records certainly favour the team in red. Arsenal have won six of the last 10 meetings and are unbeaten at Villa Park since 2003, winning five of the last eight. Form also favours the North Londoners with Arsenal unbeaten in their last nine games, winning seven. After a run of four straight league wins Villa have failed to pick up three points in their last three matches.
Injury-wise, Arsenal will continue to be without long-term victims Van Persie, Sagna and Nasri, although Bendtner is close to a return. Villa have a virtually fully fit squad to choose from, although they have slight doubts over Dunne, Carew and Petrov.
This match will be a good yardstick for both teams. For Villa it will be a test of how far they have come from this time last season, and an indicator of whether they can last the distance this time around. For Arsenal it is a chance to show that they really are a serous threat for the Premiership crown.
I'm certainly expecting it to be a very entertaining game and, despite their great recent form I feel Villa may have enough in their locker to dent the gunners' title ambitions.
Verdict: Gunners' roll dented by improving Villa
The rest of the fixtures:
Tuesday, 26th January 2010
Bolton vs Burnley - Coyle rubs salt into already sore wounds, as Trotters claim a massive three points
Portsmouth vs West Ham - With each side focussing on preservation rather than going for the jugular, expect the spoils to be shared.
Tottenham vs Fulham - Lennon-less Spurs get back to winning ways, as Crouch and Defoe come together to take Redknapp's mind off of the taxman.
Wolves vs Liverpool -Italian master class courtesy of the little prince too much for Mick’s men
Wednesday, 27th January 2010
Blackburn vs Wigan - Blackburn battle to victory as Latics' inconsistency continues
Chelsea vs Birmingham - Chelsea finally end Birmingham's run.
Everton vs Sunderland - Hard-fought match results in a draw
For full previews and accounts of all these games, please visit www.football-previews.co.uk
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