The pressure will be on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, as they welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates Stadium in the late Premier League kick off on Saturday.
The Gunners closed the gap on Liverpool at the summit to four points with a North London derby success over Tottenham on Wednesday. However, only a sequence of victories will see Arsenal maintain their title challenge.
Aston Villa should come into this round of matches in good confidence after an excellent 1-0 win at Everton. The result means that Villa have won their last two on the bounce, and are now within two points of the Champions League spots.
Odds
| Match Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | -197 |
| Draw | +350 |
| Aston Villa | +565 |
Gunners Chasing League Double Over Villa
| Total | Arsenal | Aston Villa | Draws | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 55 | 32 | 10 | 13 |
| Premier League Games | 53 | 30 | 10 | 13 |
| Goals | 151 | 100 | 51 |
Aston Villa ended Arsenal’s title dreams in this exact fixture last season with a 2-0 win at the Emirates. However, the Midlands team’s two-game winning sequence against the Gunners was ended in the reverse fixture this term following a 2-0 loss at Villa Park.
🚨⚽ TIP: Under 2.50 Goals @ -113
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa Key Stats
- Arsenal recorded a 2-1 win over Tottenham on Wednesday, marking the fifth time in Premier League history that the Gunners have completed the double over their rivals.
- Villa beat Everton 1-0 away from home on Wednesday. That means Villa have recorded wins in their opening two matches to a calendar year for the first time since 2009.
Arsenal Team News
Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Arteta will be without key stars such as Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Ethan Nwaneri on Saturday.
Possible Lineup
David Raya (GK); Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard
Aston Villa Team News
Jhon Duran is available following suspension, but Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, and John McGinn all miss out due to injuries.
Possible Lineup
Emi Martinez (GK); Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia, Ollie Watkins
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa Picks
Arsenal bounced back to winning ways with a much needed success against Tottenham in midweek. However, they looked defensively vulnerable in the opening stages of that match.
Villa’s defensive record has been solid since the turn of the year, and their counter-attack style could be an interesting angle on Saturday. Therefore, the draw could make appeal at the prices available.
-
Tags:
Leave a Comment