Ace Football previews the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa, and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
Ninth meets tenth as Aston Villa take a trip to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night to square off against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Goal difference is all that separates the two teams in the league table heading into this encounter on 12 points each. Although Villa boast a game in hand compared to Arsenal’s seven, leaving the hosts to bear the brunt of the pressure.
A superb away victory over Manchester United last weekend, however, leaves Arsenal in a good stead. That, on top of Villa’s increasingly fragile defensive line, suggests the visitors are in for a tough night.
Arsenal Form & Stats
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty gifted Arsenal a crucial 1-0 win over Manchester United last weekend. It was their first win at Old Trafford since 2006 and couldn’t have been better timed, especially amid a run of three defeats in four games.
The result gave critics a reminder of the club’s potential for this season, and the players will surely be keen to build on it with only four points separating them from Premier League leaders Southampton.
All that excellent work, though, could be undone unless the Gunners claim maximum points on Sunday.
Helping their cause will be the returns of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel, and Thomas Partey – who were rested in the 4-1 midweek win over Molde in the Europa League. Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has no fresh injury concerns.
Key Team Stats
- Won their last three games in all competitions.
- Won seven of their last eight games against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Won eight of their last 10 home league games.
- A league-best of just seven goals conceded.
- Over 2.5 goals in their last 10 home games against Aston Villa in all competitions.
Aston Villa Form & Stats
Results haven’t gone Villa’s way since that remarkable 7-2 win over Liverpool, having lost two of their three games since then to drop out of the top four spots in the Premier League standings.
Dean Smith’s side even head into the Arsenal game following back-to-back defeats to Leeds United (0-3) and Southampton (3-4). That said, they did well to respond with three goals in the latter defeat after going four goals down. All of those goals, in fact, came from long-range efforts.
But while there are no issues with his frontline, Smith will be concerned by his backline. Seven goals came been conceded in the club’s last two games alone, although the Villa manager remains confident his side can cause problems.
Villa, who narrowly lost 3-2 to Arsenal at the Emirates last season before beating them 1-0 at Villa Park in their previous meeting, are targeting consecutive wins over the Gunners for the first time since 1998.
The match will also mark Emiliano Martinez’s return to north London since the goalkeeper joined the Villians in the summer.
Key Team Stats
- Lost their last four away games against Arsenal in all competitions.
- Conceded seven goals and lost their last two league games.
- Under 2.5 goals in five of their last six away league games.
- Jack Grealish has supplied four goals and four assists in six league games.
Team News
Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli, Pablo Mari, & Calum Chambers (all out).
Aston Villa: Wesley, Bertrand Traore (both out); Tom Heaton (doubt).
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Top scorers in recent Premier League games
Head-To-Head Analysis
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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