Softfootball understands that Arsenal and Aston Villa meet at the Emirates on Tuesday night in a game that could have a big say in the Premier League title race.
The sides faced each other a few weeks ago at Villa Park, where Villa came out on top, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in an entertaining Premier League game.
Arsenal shared a photo of their players training ahead of the game via their official X account.
They posted:
Matchday loading, Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League on Saturday evening with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Brighton. With Manchester City winning earlier in the day, there was pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.
That result made it five straight wins since their late defeat at Villa Park, and it also underlined how strong they have been at home.
Arsenal begin this week two points clear of Manchester City and three ahead of Aston Villa. A win would see them finish the year on top of the table, but Villa have become a tricky opponent in recent meetings.
The Gunners have lost three of the last five league games between the sides, picking up just four points from those encounters. They’ve taken four points from their last two trips to the Emirates.
Villa have now recovered 18 points from losing positions this season, more than any other Premier League side. Their run of eight straight league wins is the club’s best since 1910, while an 11-game winning streak across all competitions matches records set more than a century ago.
Considering they were 18th and winless after five games, the turnaround has been huge. Since then, no team has won more league matches or collected more points.
Emery returns to the Emirates knowing another win would pull Villa level on points with his former club, which adds a bit of extra edge to the night.
Team News
Arsenal could make a few changes after a demanding festive schedule. Declan Rice filled in at right-back against Brighton, with defensive injuries continuing to cause problems. Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori all remain unavailable.
There was some good news with Gabriel Magalhães returning to the squad, although it’s still unclear whether he’s ready to start. Forward Eberechi Eze will be hoping to start.
Villa will be without Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara, both suspended after picking up bookings against Chelsea. Amadou Onana is expected to come into midfield, while Lamare Bogarde should cover at right-back.
Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres and Ross Barkley remain sidelined, while Evann Guessand is away at AFCON. Watkins is expected to lead the line again.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Gyökeres, Eze
Aston Villa:
Martínez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendía, Rogers; Watkins
Softfootball’s Prediction
Both sides have shown they can stay calm when games don’t go their way. Villa’s habit of fighting back makes them a tough opponent, while Arsenal are usually difficult to beat at home, even when they’re not at their best.
Villa’s winning run feels like it should slow down eventually, but it probably won’t end quietly. This looks like one of those games where momentum swings back and forth, with chances at both ends.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
