Aston Villa vs Arsenal Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
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THE FACTS
When is Aston Villa vs Arsenal on and what time does it start? Aston Villa vs Arsenal will take place on Saturday 9th December, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Aston Villa vs Arsenal? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Aston Villa vs Arsenal on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Where can I stream Aston Villa vs Arsenal in the UK? If Aston Villa vs Arsenal is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa clinched a resounding 1-0 victory against Manchester City on Wednesday night, a result that propelled them past the reigning champions and left the rest of the league contemplating whether Villa are a genuine title contender.
Two quick chances for Erling Haaland in the 11th minute hinted at a potential taxing evening for the Villains. However, those opportunities marked the last significant goal threats from City as Villa seized control of the game, despite the scoreline not entirely reflecting their dominance.
Villa secured their 14th consecutive Premier League home win in spectacular fashion. They unleashed a total of 22 shots, a figure that stands as joint-highest ever recorded against a Pep Guardiola-led team across Europe’s top five leagues.
Arsenal
Villa’s victory over City carries immense weight for Arsenal in their pursuit of a Premier League title. As their competitors stumble, the Gunners must seize this challenging moment to silence skeptics and demonstrate resilience in the face of pressure. A win on Saturday would be pivotal, showcasing their mettle against a strong adversary on away turf.
In yet another enthralling injury-time rally, this time beating Luton 4-3 courtesy of a last-gasp Declan Rice winner, Arsenal extended their winning streak across all competitions to six consecutive matches. The Gunners' ability to consistently secure late victories has showcased their resilience and determination, prompting many pundits to attribute this success to the characteristics typically seen in championship-winning sides
Notably, no Premier League team has emerged victorious at Villa Park since Mikel Arteta's Arsenal succeeded their themselves.
THE TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery is set to conduct a last-minute evaluation of his squad ahead of the Arsenal encounter. Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings stand as the only confirmed long-term absentees. However, uncertainty looms over Bertrand Traore's availability due to an injury sustained during his international duties, rendering his participation in doubt for the upcoming match.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins
UNAVAILABLE: Mings (Injured), Buendia (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Traore (Injured)
ARSENAL
Arteta reassured that following the victory at Luton, there are no new injury setbacks. Nonetheless, Arsenal continue to grapple with the absence of five crucial players. Thomas Partey, despite showing promising progress in his recovery from a long-term injury, remains unavailable. Fabio Vieira remains sidelined due to a persistent groin injury, while Emile Smith Rowe continues his recovery from a knee issue that has significantly limited his participation this season.
Additionally, Justin Timber is still absent due to an ACL injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu joins the list of injured players, nursing a calf injury that may potentially extend beyond the winter break, causing his absence from the squad.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
UNAVAILABLE: Timber (Injured), Tomiyasu (Injured), Partey (Injured), Vieira (Injured), Smith Rowe (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Back in February, two errors from Martinez cost Villa dearly against Arsenal. However, since then, the Lions have displayed remarkable resilience at home, making it unlikely that they'll be offering any gifts to Emery's former team. Arsenal's recent defensive performance against Luton was far from reassuring, indicating potential vulnerabilities for Villa to exploit.
Although the time seems ripe for Villa to break their losing streak against an Arteta-less Gunners squad, Arsenal have shown plenty of fighting spirit this season and it wouldn't be surprising to see both teams get on the scoresheet here.
BETTING TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
