Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Saturday’s Premier League action gets underway at Villa Park as mid-table Aston Villa and title-bidding Arsenal go head-to-head in a high-stakes fixture.

Following an inspirational four-match unbeaten league start to 2023 (W3, D1), back-to-back two-goal margin defeats to Leicester City and Manchester City have undone Aston Villa’s hard work, leaving them pinned to 11th in the standings. But with 10th-placed Chelsea only three points off, Villa’s hopes of securing a first top-half finish in the Premier League since 2010/11 are still very much alive. However, Unai Emery’s men have faltered at home of late, registering just one win from five competitive home outings since the season resumed after the World Cup (D1, L3). Villa’s defensive frailties have seen them keep just two clean sheets in their last 13 matches, casting further doubt on their effort to return to winning ways.

In the meantime, Arsenal fell to a morale-crushing 3-1 home loss to fellow title competitors Man City in midweek Premier League action, making it three straight league games without winning (D1, L2). After letting the reigning champions shred their eight-point lead into pieces and leapfrog them at the summit, the ‘Gunners’ cannot afford another slip-up if they’re to rally their troops. Yet, Mikel Arteta’s men have lost their last two competitive away games 1-0 and could suffer three defeats in a row on the road for the first time since December 2021. Considering they’ve been on the receiving end in two of their last three Premier League visits to Villa Park (W1), it’s hard to rule out another upset.