Villa handed tough start

David O'Leary's side meet the Gunners on the first day of the campaign on 19 August before entertaining newly-promoted Reading in Birmingham four days later. Villa played like rabbits on their last visit to north London, disappearing from view as they burrowed beneath the Highbury turf to allow Arsenal to romp to a 5-0 victory. Sadly, the liberal doses of myxoma spread around Villa Park have failed to induce Myxomatosis in the players so many will turn out again come August.