Arsenal – Aston Villa
Our Arsenal – Aston Villa betting tip is: Both teams to score – 1.96 odds
- Both Arsenal and Villa scored in four of their last five games
- Both teams play very offensively
- Arsenal have the second-best offense in England
A thrilling Premier League clash between Arsenal and Aston Villa is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, currently in second place in the table, four points behind Liverpool, will come into the game full of confidence after their 2-1 derby victory over Tottenham. Interestingly, Mikel Arteta’s team continue to perform well despite recently being knocked out of the cup.
The Villa team under former Arsenal coach Unai Emery is proving to be a tough opponent and is currently sharing 7th place with Manchester City. After the narrow 1-0 win at Everton on Wednesday, their confidence is likely to have risen further. However, one may wonder whether the energy-sapping English week has left its mark after all.
Arsenal – Aston Villa Info
- Stadium: Emirates Stadium, London
- Date and Time: 18.01.2025, 18:30
- Competition: Premier League (Regular Season – 22)
- TV broadcast: Sky
Arsenal form & record check
Arsenal are currently in inconsistent form, which is particularly reflected in their most recent results. The 2-1 home win in the London derby against Tottenham was an important victory, but before that there were painful cup defeats: the exit from the FA Cup against Manchester United on penalties after a 1-1 draw and the 0-2 defeat against Newcastle in the League Cup revealed attacking weaknesses.
Will the Gunners be able to keep up with the Reds?
Interestingly, a clear pattern has emerged: the Gunners regularly score, but also concede at least one goal in every game – a streak that extends over the last five matches. With second place in the table and four points behind Liverpool, the championship is still within reach, but the defensive stability of the previous season seems to be lacking at the moment.
One may wonder whether the additional burden of the cup competitions is affecting Mikel Arteta’s team. The team seems tired at times, which is particularly noticeable in the late stages of games. The loss of key player Bukayo Saka comes at the worst possible time, especially since he has not only scored goals this season but has also been an important provider of assists.
Arsenal facts & analysis
- Position: 2 in the Premier League
- Second-best offense
- Unbeaten in 11 Premier League games
Mikel Arteta will be without a number of key players for the home clash with Aston Villa. The loss of Saka, who is out with a hamstring injury, is particularly painful. Gabriel Jesus (knee) and White (knee) are also unavailable. Arsenal are likely to field the usual 4-3-3 system, with Raya set between the posts. In the back four, Timber could replace the injured White, while the midfield will likely be occupied by the proven trio of Rice, Partey and captain Ødegaard. In attack, Trossard is expected to replace the injured Saka on the right wing, while Sterling and Havertz will occupy the other offensive positions.
Aston Villa Form & Record Check
Aston Villa are currently in impressive form and are underlining their ambitions for a Champions League place. The latest 1-0 away win against Everton, in which Ollie Watkins once again scored, was already their third win in their last four competitive games. Particularly noteworthy is the efficiency of Emery’s team, which also wins close matches.
Can the Villians stop the Gunners?
With 35 points and 7th place in the table, Villa are level on points with Manchester City and on course for the Champions League – a position that hardly anyone would have thought possible before the season. The pattern of the last few games is interesting: the team is particularly dangerous in the second halves, where more than 1.5 goals are scored in 80% of cases. This late momentum makes Villa an unpleasant opponent.
The signing of Donyell Malen from BVB also underlines the club’s ambitious plans. You might think that Villa will become even more variable in attack with this – a quality that could be crucial in the battle for European places. The only weak point remains their vulnerability in defense, where they have conceded at least one goal in 80% of their last games.
Aston Villa facts & analysis
- 7th place
- Last 5 matches: 3 wins, 1 draw & 1 defeat
- 32 goals conceded in 21 matches
Aston Villa will likely stick with the 4-2-3-1 system that has served them so well under Unai Emery. Martinez is set to start in goal. The back four is likely to remain unchanged due to the injuries to Diego Carlos and Pau Torres, with Cash, Konsa, Mings and Digne. In defensive midfield, Kamara is likely to form a double six with new signing Onana. In front of them, Rogers, Tielemans and Ramsey will presumably occupy the attacking midfield – although the injured McGinn leaves a painful gap here. As the only striker, Watkins is practically set after his strong form. It will be interesting to see whether the recently signed Malen will be in the squad.
Arsenal – Aston Villa head to head & stats
