Arsenal return to Premier League action with a home clash against Aston Villa tonight.
The Gunners - who will face a reunion with former goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez - continue to cruise in the Europa League after Thursday’s 4-1 thumping of Norwegian side Molde, which followed hot on the heels of a first win at Old Trafford for 14 years.
That 1-0 triumph over Manchester United was most welcome after back-to-back League defeats against Manchester City and Leicester and moved them into the top half of the table, where they will hope to quickly get back into the top six.
Villa are above Arsenal on goal difference only as it stands but have suffered successive losses against Leeds and Southampton since that stunning 7-2 demolition of Liverpool and a narrow defeat of Leicester.
Emiliano Martinez will come up against his old team-mates when Aston Villa travel to Arsenal this weekend
Getty ImagesDate, time and venue
Arsenal vs Aston Villa is scheduled for a 7:15pm kick-off tonight, (Sunday November 8, 2020).
The match is due to be played behind closed doors at Emirates Stadium due to Government guidelines regarding coronavirus.
How to watch
Arsenal vs Aston Villa is available to watch on Sky Sports Box Office, at a cost of £14.95.
Team news
Arsenal XI: Leno, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Bellerin, Thomas, Elneny, Saka, Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Ceballos, Runarsson, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Luiz, Nketiah, Xhaka
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Trezeguet, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins
Subs: Taylor, Steer, Hourihane, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Elmohamady, Davis
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Reiss Nelson missed Arsenal’s Europa League win over Molde with a knee problem
Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesPrediction: Arsenal 3-1 Aston Villa
Villa have gone off the boil somewhat since those wins over Liverpool and Leicester, though it is worth noting that they have won both of their away League games so far this term.
Arsenal should be full of optimism after that morale-boosting win at Old Trafford and will be confident of avoiding back-to-back home losses in the top-flight.
Home win.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
These two sides have met exactly 50 times in the Premier League era, with Arsenal claiming 27 wins to Villa’s nine, with 14 draws.
Last season, the Gunners edged the home fixture 3-2 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late free-kick, but lost 1-0 at Villa Park as Trezeguet’s first-half winner clinched a crucial three points for Dean Smith’s side in their fight against relegation.
Bettings odds and tips
- Arsenal win - 8/11
- Aston Villa win - 9/2
- Draw - 16/5
Odds (subject to change) courtesy of Betfair Exchange.
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