England Premier League
Friday 22nd October 2021
Kick off at 8pm BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Match Preview:
With regards to Arsenal’s recent form it really depends on how you want to look at it. They haven’t been wholly convincing in their last two games which have ended in draws but they have gone their last 5 without defeat.
Arsenal get to stay at home for the second time in a row after drawing 2-2 against Crystal Palace on Monday evening. The Gunners got away with that in an entertaining game where they took the lead only to end up trailing 2-1. A last minute goal by Alexandre Lacazette secured a point. The players were ecstatic after the final whistle and just underlined what has been wrong with this Arsenal team for years. Make no mistake there was nothing to celebrate about claiming a last minute draw at home to Crystal Palace when you had taken the lead.
What is worrying about Arsenal also is their lack of goals, this is a team who even when not winning trophies have been famed for their goals but the Gunners have scored just 7 so far. There have been 14 teams in the Premier League who have scored more, even struggling Newcastle in 19th have scored 3 more goals than Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal come into the weekend in 12th place and even if every other result falls in their lap they won’t go higher than 8th and are 8 points behind the leaders Chelsea.
Aston Villa are in 13th place and just one behind Arsenal and one point so victory for Dean Smith’s side would push them past the Gunners. Form has been very mixed because despite two good wins against Everton and Manchester United they have lost 3 of their last five games including their last two.
One has to wonder how much the defeat at the weekend against Wolves took out of them? Villa were cruising and were leading that game 2-0 at home. But Wolves who are in form came back and won the game through a 95th minute goal from Ruben Neves to win 3-2. For the neutral and Wolves fan this is what makes football the greatest sport in the world but for Villa this was a game to forget.
On their travels Villa have the seventh to worst record with just one victory so far, ironically coming against Manchester United. They have been able to score at least 1 goal in each away game except when they played Chelsea.
Team News:
Arsenal: Granit Xhaka is out until at least January with a knee injury. Bukayo Saka has a knock and will have to be assessed.
Aston Villa: Leon Bailey is being pencilled in to return for this game but will be assessed. Matthew Cash is being tipped to be fine for this one but has a dead leg. Bertrand Traore will face further tests on his thigh and is a doubt to be ready for this game.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Head to Head:
Last season this fixture finished 3-0 to Aston Villa.
Aston Villa have won the last 3 meetings in a row against Arsenal, however before then Arsenal managed seven victories in a row.
The last seven meetings have the pattern of over and under goals. If this was to repeat this fixture would be over 2.5 goals.
In the clubs have only drawn 0-0 once in the last 18 meetings.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Prediction:
Arsenal had certainly improved over the past month but there may be question marks over the side again after their last gasp draw at home to Crystal Palace. Palace are a decent side but at the same time Arsenal especially after taking the lead and being at home would have been expected to have won this game- they would have in the past. It underlines that on their day the Gunners can turn it on, but ‘those days’ seem few and far between. It is a little like the situation at their old rivals Manchester United.
Aston Villa are turning into the type of team that can frustrate many punters. They played well against Everton and played Manchester United off the park at Old Trafford and yet in easier looking games they have failed a few times. This is a fixture where historically they have been poor, though manager Dean Smith will remind his team of their recent excellent record against the Gunners.
This isn’t an easy fixture to call because these two teams come into this one very equal. However we will edge for the Gunners to get the win. But the main choice here should be to back both teams to score. Arsenal’s defence looks leaky and despite losing their last two games in a row Villa did score 3 goals, so they aren’t short of that at least. This game has all the markings of an entertaining one which should be end to end and plenty of opportunities for both sides.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Betting Tips:
Arsenal to beat Aston Villa at 1.91
Both teams to score at 1.80
Anytime goalscorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at 2.25
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