Premier League champions Arsenal will face their first major away test of the 2026-27 campaign when they travel to Villa Park to meet Aston Villa on Monday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side made an emphatic start to their title defence, beating newly promoted Coventry City 3-0 at the Emirates. That victory followed their Community Shield triumph over Manchester City, giving Arsenal two wins, six goals and two clean sheets to begin the new campaign.
Arsenal will also be chasing history. Having won their last four opening away fixtures, the Gunners could record five consecutive away victories at the start of a Premier League season for the first time in their history.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, need an immediate response after their disastrous 4-0 defeat to Brighton. The result exposed several weaknesses in Unai Emery’s squad, with Villa conceding four goals inside 31 minutes before Joao Gomes was sent off.
The hosts have since strengthened with the arrivals of Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson, with both players available for Monday’s contest. Villa will also draw confidence from winning three consecutive home league matches against reigning champions.
However, Arsenal have already defeated Villa 4-1 in the corresponding home fixture last season and will enter the contest as favourites.
Team News
Ezri Konsa could make his debut against his former club, although he is likely to start on the bench. Bruno Guimaraes has a chance of returning from a minor groin problem, while Jurrien Timber and William Saliba remain unavailable. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus could also be left out amid transfer speculation.
Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka are both registered and available to debut. Joao Gomes begins a three-match suspension following his red card against Brighton, while Amadou Onana remains sidelined with a knee injury. Johan Manzambi and Brian Madjo are also unavailable.
Possible Lineups
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Ruggeri; Bogarde, Kamara; Buendia, Barkley, McGinn; Jackson
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport Premier League |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00pm (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal.
