GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)
606: DEBATE
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By Caroline Cheese
1332: And we’re off. Frank McLintock, Arsenal’s double-winning skipper in 1970/1, was on the pitch shortly before kick-off. He celebrates his 70th birthday tomorrow, you know.1325: Nearly time to go at the Emirates. Villa won this fixture 2-0 last season, and a repeat today will see them go above the Gunners and Manchester United into second (until later anyway) - and become the first club since Leeds (1994/5) to beat the ‘Big Four’ in a single season.From Emily via text: "Fingers crossed Villa don’t do their usual crumble at Christmas and keep it up for the rest of the season. Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!"From dominic on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/F15646760thread=7176184&skip=100&show=50)"Re 1236: Love the logic Arsene. That’s like saying Walcott is too fast. Normal players do not have this speed and therefore young Theo should have a speed limit. Perhaps the fourth official could hold a speed camera to clock him"1314:Malchickles on Twitterpoints out that the marvellously-named Task Force 2000, which included Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer, considered replacing throw-ins with kick-ins, but decided it was a rubbish idea. I hope they were wearing lycra super-hero outfits while they considered it.1310: Here’s some encouraging news: Ray Stubbs is back at home and feeling much better after being taken to hospital midway through his ESPN presenting shift yesterday. That’s according toMark Bright on Twitter.Get well soon, Stubbsy.From redandblackT1899 on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A61169240s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)"Re 1236: Kick-ins were experimented at the U-17 Championship in Japan in 93 by Fifa. There’s a reason they were kicked out after that tournament and never heard from again. They didn’t add anything to the play and everyone looked confused!"From anon via text: "In despair over Eduardo selection, why not play Ramsey who is in the form of his life!"1257: TEAM NEWS Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is only fit enough for a place on the bench after a hamstring injury as right-back Bacary Sagna replaces Emmanuel Eboue and Armand Traore comes in for Mikael Silvestre at left-back for the Gunners. Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey was a doubt with a groin strain but is fit to start as manager Martin O’Neill names an unchanged side from the win over Stoke.From tom1080 on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A61169240s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)"Re 1236: So instead of long throw specialists you would get long kick specialists. With teams pumping the ball into the box from the half way line. Don’t think Mr Wenger has thought this one through."1251: TEAMS Arsenal v Aston Villa
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby, Eduardo, Arshavin. Subs: Fabianski, Fabregas, Vela, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Ashley Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Carew, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye, Collins.From Jamey, Dagenham, via text: "Re 1236: I actually agree with him Caroline! It’s kicked in for a corner, so why not replace a throw-in Might encourage a bit more 'foot’ball"1244: Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas is only fit enough for the bench, I’m hearing. Please don’t forget to text on 81111 (the UK) or +44 7786200666 (the world) or get on606](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A61169240s_fromedit=1&s_type=15&s_sport=football)orTwitter.](http://twitter.com/carolinecheese)I know you wouldn’t.1240: Plenty ofArsenal-related gossip in the papers today too.Wenger’s still after Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, or he could go for Andre Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, or, improbably, Craig Bellamy.1236: Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side host Villa today, has decided to celebrate the end of the noughties and the midway point of the season by sharing his vision for the future of football, including scrapping throw-ins. (Is it me or is he basing this on the fact that the Gunners haven’t got a player who can lob it into the penalty area) “At Stoke, for Rory Delap it is like kicking the ball,” says Wenger. "It is a little bit of an unfair advantage. He is using a strength that is usually not a strength in football. So the rule I would change would be maybe to play throw-ins by foot. Why not I think it would make the game quicker."1230: Hello. Happy ‘the day after Boxing Day’ to you. After today, we’ll be around about, roughly, halfway through the Premier League season, there or thereabouts. Chelsea will be top, we know that, but second, third and fourth could be reshuffled before the day is out. Ooh, the drama..This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.