Aston Villa and Arsenal will go head-to-head in the standout fixture of the Premier League weekend.
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Aston Villa vs Arsenal odds
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Aston Villa vs Arsenal predictions
Arsenal have been steadily improving year on year under Mikel Arteta, but they do not yet have anything tangible to show for it.
Arteta won the FA Cup back in 2020 but that was a very different Arsenal team to the one we see now. The starting XI for that final against Chelsea featured the likes of Emi Martinez, Hector Bellerin, David Luiz, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a match-winning brace, while Bukayo Saka was an unused substitute. Only one of the players who featured for Arsenal that day is still at the club, and Kieran Tierney is now perhaps the third-choice left-back.
The current side is much stronger than the one that tasted glory at Wembley Stadium four years ago, yet Arsenal have not won a major trophy since then.
That is something Arteta and his players are desperate to rectify. This Arsenal side does not want to go down as one which did not win enough prizes for its consistent excellence.
The Gunners only finished a point behind Manchester City in the Premier League last season, so they are not far off. They even took four points off the champions, winning at the Emirates Stadium and drawing at the Etihad Stadium.
But overhauling Pep Guardiola’s men is a gargantuan task. City made a statement of intent on the opening weekend, brushing aside Chelsea in a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal were also 2-0 winners last time out, as goals from Kai Havertz and the aforementioned Saka saw off Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Needless to say, this will be a much stiffer test. It is true that Aston Villa face a new challenge of balancing domestic commitments with the Champions League, but their European campaign does not kick off until September. For now Villa are fully focused on the Premier League.
They too were triumphant in gameweek one, running out 2-1 winners over West Ham United on their travels. Now Unai Emery’s men return to Villa Park, where they beat Arsenal among many others in 2023/24.
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Aston Villa vs Arsenal betting tips
Can Aston Villa make a statement of intent against Arsenal, or will the Gunners come out on top?
Arsenal to win – 3/4 (Sky Bet)
It is hard to pick faults in Arsenal’s 2023/24 campaign given they racked up 89 points, their second-highest tally of all time. But there was certainly room for improvement in their displays against Aston Villa.
Villa were the only team against whom Arsenal did not pick up a single point. They lost 1-0 away in December and 2-0 at home in April.
Had they avoided defeat in just one of those matches, Arsenal would have been champions for the first time since Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles swept all before them in 2003/04.
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Saturday’s match therefore gives Arsenal an early opportunity to show they have moved up a gear from last term.
Villa made their home ground a fortress at times last season, yet their home results noticeably dropped after the turn of the year. Indeed, Emery’s team failed to win six of their last nine matches in front of their own supporters.
Provided they are disciplined and focused, Arsenal can pick up a big win this weekend
⚽ Back Arsenal to win at 3/4 with Sky Bet ⚽
Under 2.5 goals – 11/10 (Sky Bet)
There will be no shortage of attacking talent on the field in the late kick-off on Saturday, but we should not expect a high-scoring affair.
Both meetings between these teams were absorbing to watch, but neither featured more than 2.5 goals. We should be in store for something similar here.
The characterisation of Emery as a defensive manager has been shown to be overly simplistic since he joined Villa, who have played some excellent football under the Spaniard.
But in big matches like this, it is fair to say that Emery puts an emphasis on organisation and shape out of possession.
Both teams will have to work hard to create openings on Saturday.
⚽ Tip under 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Sky Bet ⚽
Bukayo Saka to score or assist – 5/6 (Sky Bet)
Many of the Spanish and English players who were heavily involved in their nation’s Euro 2024 campaign are being eased back in at their respective clubs.
Not Saka. Despite being a prominent figure for Gareth Southgate’s side in Germany, the Arsenal man started against Wolves and was a key reason for his team’s triumph.
A delicious cross from Saka set up Havertz for the opener, before a fine finish from the England international himself took the game away from Gary O’Neil’s charges in the second half.
Despite his all-round exploits over the last couple of years and the maturity of his performances, it still feels like Saka is a tad underrated.
The Arsenal man is among the best forwards in the world and he can influence Saturday’s showdown against Aston Villa.
⚽ Choose Bukayo Saka to score or assist at 5/6 with Sky Bet ⚽
📺 How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal
- Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
- Date and time: Saturday 24th August, 5.30pm.
- How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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