Arsenal will continue their push for the Premier League title this afternoon with the visit of Aston Villa.
The Gunners are currently top of the table on goal difference and are unbeaten in the whole of 2024, so things look good for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Arsenal are locked in a three-way battle for the title but are showing no signs of letting up.
However, Villa have been one of the best sides in the league this season and beat the Gunners in the reverse fixture at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s men are also fighting for a Champions League spot with Tottenham and will want to get a result in north London to stay in touch.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Emery’s revenge
It would be fair to say that Emery’s time at Arsenal ended badly, and though he’s achieved a lot since, his time with the Gunners will always sting.
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The Spaniard replaced Arsene Wenger but, after a good start, things quickly turned sour with the players, media and fans.
He became a bit of a laughing stock with first-team squad members openly mocking Emery, while fans made it very clear by the end he wasn’t the man for them.
Overall, it was a stain on Emery’s excellent record, and he would relish the chance to dent their title hopes, while boosting Villa’s Champions League chances.
- Arsenal have won five of their last six home Premier League games against Aston Villa, losing the other 3-0 in November 2020.
- Following their 1-0 win against them at Villa Park in December, Aston Villa are looking to complete just their third Premier League double over Arsenal, previously doing so in 1992-93 and 2020-21.
- Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League away games against London sides (W6 D3), having lost eight of their previous nine before this (W1). It’s the Villans’ longest run without defeat in the capital in their league history.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Team news
The Gunners have just one injury concern with Jurrien Timber still not fully fit after an ACL injury.
The Dutchman sustained the problem in the first game of the season against Nottingham Forest and has been out since.
However, he’s expected to at least play one game at some point before the end of the campaign, with Arteta revealing he ‘still has a few steps to make’ before he can return.
Meanwhile, the Villans are without Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia due to similar injuries.
Jacob Ramsey’s season is over after he suffered another ankle injury, while Matty Cash has a hamstring problem.
- Arsenal have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League games (D1), scoring at least twice in each victory. The Gunners have conceded just four goals across these 11 games, though three of those have been at the Emirates Stadium.
- Aston Villa lost 4-1 at Manchester City in their last Premier League away game, but haven’t lost consecutively on the road since May 2023. However, they’ve lost each of their three away games against last season’s top four so far by an aggregate score of 12-4.
- Aston Villa have caught their opponents offside 142 times in the Premier League this season, more than 40 more than any other side. Meanwhile, only Man City (33) have been flagged offside themselves less often than the Villans (38).
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: What has been said?
Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas thinks the Gunners are going to become regular Premier League title contenders.
He said: “If they can manage to win the first one [under Arteta], I believe it could become a constant threat for Arsenal to be challenging for all the top titles.
“It is all about Edu and the owners giving him the time and the right tools to prove himself.
“When this happens, the structure, the vision and the trust comes together and things happen. That is why I am happy.
“I always use them as an example, the first two years of Mikel, in any other club or someone else managing the situation could have just got rid of Mikel and said ‘we are moving to another direction’.
“But they had a clear plan, a clear process, they had the right steps, they invested in young, quality players and now you get all the results of these ups and downs of the first two or three years.
“They are there, they have done really well and they are a proper example of how football should be done.”
- Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has been involved in nine goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (5 goals, 4 assists), while overall this is his most productive Premier League campaign for both goals (9) and assists (5).
- Bukayo Saka has been involved in 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, scoring nine and assisting two. One more goal would see him become the first English player to score 15 in a league campaign for Arsenal since Ian Wright in 1996-97 (23).
- Ollie Watkins has been involved in 11 goals in his last 10 Premier League games (9 goals, 2 assists), and seven in his last four away from home (5 goals, 2 assists). His 18 goals overall this season is the second most by an Aston Villa player in a single Premier League campaign, after Christian Benteke (19 in 2012-13).
- Leandro Trossard has eight Premier League goals this season, his joint-most in a single campaign. Four of these have been as a substitute, with only Olivier Giroud ever netting more from the bench for Arsenal in a season (6 in 2016-17).
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Date and how to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday, April 14.
Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 4:30pm.
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League.
Sky Go customers will be able to watch the action on their laptops and mobile devices.
Alternatively, fans can buy a one-day NOW TV pass for £11.98.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout and talkSPORT.com will have a live blog to keep you up to date with everything.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
News Summary:
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Gunners looking to continue title charge against high-flying Aston Villa – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
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