Arsenal vs. Aston Villa preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

Momentum continues to build around Arsenal’s title push after a gritty 2-1 home win over Brighton last weekend kept them at the summit of the table.

With belief growing that this could finally be the season they reclaim the crown for the first time since 2004, Mikel Arteta’s side are making their home advantage count.

The Gunners have been formidable in north London, dropping points in just one of their nine league outings at the Emirates so far (W8, D1).

They also tend to close out calendar years strongly, having won their final league fixture in five of the last six seasons, and will be eager to maintain that trend here.

However, recent meetings with Villa offer a note of caution. Arsenal have found this opponent far tougher than in years gone by, and former boss Unai Emery has yet to taste defeat in his two away Premier League visits to the Emirates since taking charge of the Midlands club.

Villa arrive in the capital with confidence sky-high after extending their remarkable league-winning streak to eight matches with a comeback victory over Chelsea.

That run represents their longest top-flight winning sequence in more than a century, underlining just how far Emery has elevated the club.

A defining feature of Villa’s campaign has been their refusal to accept defeat. No side has recovered more points from losing positions this season, with the Villans already amassing 18 such points, just three shy of the club’s all-time Premier League record, achieved back in 1993-94.

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Aston Villa have enjoyed recent success in this fixture, winning three of the last five Premier League meetings (D1, L1). That matches the number of victories they recorded across the previous 13 league clashes combined.

Arsenal’s defensive resources remain stretched. Jurrien Timber was already unavailable when Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury in the warm-up against Brighton, while Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White also remain sidelined.

Declan Rice was deployed at right-back last time out and may be required to fill in again.

Villa will be without Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara, both suspended after picking up bookings at Stamford Bridge.

Long-term absentees Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres and Ross Barkley remain unavailable, while Evann Guessand is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Aston Villa: Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins

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This shapes up as one of the standout fixtures of the round. Arsenal’s home strength gives them a narrow edge, but Villa’s resilience and habit of striking back when under pressure suggest they will not go quietly.

Correct score prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

Betting tips:

Arsenal to win

Both teams to score

Over 2.5 goals