Aston Villa are ready to host Arsenal in a blockbuster clash that could significantly affect the title race with the two teams bang in form.
Unai Emery will barely have had time to reflect on the massive win over Manchester City in midweek, taking them into the third spot. Leon Bailey’s solitary strike in the 74th minute does not do justice to Aston Villa’s performance against the Treble winners.
Villa’s backline restricted Manchester City to just two shots, with those coming in one attacking sequence early in the first half. Moreover, they mustered 22 shots against Pep Guardiola’s defence, something no other team has done in the past. Emery faces an even more enormous task, as Villa welcomes Arsenal to their ground in what represents an even more significant challenge on paper.
Unai Emery: "They are going to support us, [from] the minute one until the minute 90." 🤝
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 8, 2023
A win would keep them in third for the time being, but such a result would cement their progression as potential title contenders, unprecedented at the start of the campaign. Moreover, they can make it 15 home wins in a row, which would be a club record.
Arsenal, meanwhile, got away with a massive result in midweek after it looked like they were destined to drop two crucial points away at Luton Town. A 97th-minute Declan Rice striker ensured the Gunners took all three back to north London, but Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly ask questions of his defence.
The victory at Luton was their fourth in a row after their loss to Newcastle United. With Manchester City dropping nine points from their last four games, Arsenal and Liverpool have capitalised on the downfall, with the Gunners now sitting six points clear of Guardiola’s side and two ahead of the Merseysiders.
Arteta will know the importance of getting a significant result at the weekend because it’s a must for the Gunners to keep their place at the top of the table. With Emery’s side posing a significant threat to the Gunners, the Arsenal manager will hope they come away with three points as this is an encounter between the best home side taking on the team with the best away record in the division.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Emery will have been relieved to see some key players not pick up a booking against Manchester City. Lucas Digne, Douglas Luiz and Matty Cash were all in danger of a suspension with a fifth yellow card, but they are in contention to play against Arsenal.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 8, 2023
After Villa’s performances against Man City, Emery has a reason to shuffle his pack if there are late fitness troubles with his squad. He will stick to the same set of players and formation to face the Gunners.
Ezri Konsa has excelled in that right-back role, and continues to keep Cash out of the lineup, at least in the defensive setup. Emery has recently deployed a formation resembling a 4-4-2, with Youri Tielemans making key contributions and becoming an essential player for Emery.
Leon Bailey’s form keeps Moussa Diaby out of the lineup, as the Jamaican will keep his place on the right side of the midfield four, while Tielemans will continue to play behind striker Ollie Watkins.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1) – Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Tielemans; Watkins
Arsenal
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s scans were not good, as the Japanese defender will miss many weeks of action with a calf injury. He joins Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith-Rowe on the sidelines. Despite those raft of absentees, Arteta still has a competitive squad, which he believes can get a result at Aston Villa.
Sights set on Saturday 👊
📍 London Colney pic.twitter.com/9TvBn9L5p7
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 8, 2023
Arteta could make a few changes to his lineup from the Luton game. However, he will stick with David Raya in goal as another debate erupted after the Spaniard’s midweek performance. Oleksandr Zinchenko could come in for Jakub Kiwior at left-back, while the manager might ponder midfield changes.
Kai Havertz probably had his best performance since joining Arsenal on Tuesday, but the game state may require Jorginho to play the anchor role. Ideally, Arteta will ponder keeping the German and the midfield setup intact, with Martin Odegaard competing on the right side of Rice.
Bukayo Saka will want to keep scoring or assisting in a 12th game in a row. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will also look to score and add to their tally. Leandro Trossard and Jorginho will give Arteta good options off the bench, with Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah also able to slot in if needed.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3) – Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Key Stats
- Aston Villa are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 matches in the Premier League.
- Aston Villa have won 14 home games in a row in the Premier League, with the last team to beat them here being Arsenal.
- Arsenal have won away at Aston Villa 14 times in the Premier League, their joint-highest number of victories on the road against any opponent in Premier League history.
- Arsenal are undefeated in 19 of their last 21 away matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Bukayo Saka has scored (2) or assisted (1) in each of his last three Premier League games against Aston Villa.
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
Declan Rice: The Gunner Galactico 🔥 @Arsenal | @_DeclanRice pic.twitter.com/FkfziTtBlc
— Premier League India (@PLforIndia) December 8, 2023
It’s a massive battle brewing up at Villa Park when Arsenal come visiting, as the game will be won or lost depending on who comes out on top in the midfield battle. Arsenal have a force in Declan Rice, and the England international must have his best game against the formidable Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara.
Rice did prove a big point that he was one of the best players in the division with his decisive goal at Luton, but the Villa game is the real test for the Arsenal star. The midfielder must win his battle and provide Arsenal with a proper base to attack Emery’s defence and get the three points.
Prediction
Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal
Manchester City had a dreadful performance at Villa Park the other day, but they kept the scoreline to the bare minimum. Villa have shown they have the firepower to attack teams like that, and Arsenal could face a difficult challenge here.
However, the Gunners have been very pragmatic in big games this season, and that might remain the case when they come to Villa. Arteta will want to restrict Emery’s side to getting minimal chances, but that could harm how they perform in the attacking third. Hence, there are hallmarks of an eventful draw on paper, but either side can nick a win on Saturday with favourable conditions.
