English Premier League leaders Arsenal face their toughest test in a while when they host Aston Villa at the Emirates on Tuesday night. The Gunners sit atop the EPL standings with 42 points, three more than third place Villa ahead of the much anticipated clash.
Both teams come into the game on the back of high-flying performances, without a single defeat in their previous five matches. Aston Villa are fresh off a stunning 2-1 comeback victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, tying a 100-year club record of 11 consecutive wins.
Arsenal have also won nine of their last 10 Premier League home games and need to keep up that record to ensure they finish the calendar year on top of the table.
Four points from their last two games at the Emirates will be a motivational factor for Unai Emery’s side as they continue their quest to prove they too are EPL title contenders.
Emery will return to the Emirates in a bid to destabilize his former side as both teams look to cement their intent of winning the title for the first time in decades.
Our team has a look at all key details of the game as well as the best bets ahead of the clash.
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Team news
Jurrien Timber and Ricardo Calafiori missed the last game due to injury and are not expected to return here. Declan Rice filled in at right-back against Brighton but is expected to resume his midfield role here, alongside both Martins, Zubimendi and Odegaard.
Eberechi Eze is expected to return to the starting line-up after recording five goal involvements in the last four games he has played against Villa.
For the visitors, Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score a brace against Chelsea and will start at the Emirates. No other change is expected from the Villa manager to the side that started in the win against Chelsea.
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Head-to-head and current form
Both teams are without defeat in their last five games, setting this up to be a hotly-contested affair. The visitors will be confident of a positive result, holding the upper hand with three victories in their last five matches against the Gunners.
Current form
Arsenal – WDWWW
Aston Villa – WWWWW
Previous matches
Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal (EPL, Dec 6, 2025)
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa (EPL, Jan 18, 2025)
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal (EPL, Aug 24, 2024)
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa (EPL, April 14, 2024)
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (EPL, Dec 9, 2023)
Prediction
The prolific attacking display on both squads is unquestionable and a goal for each side is expected in this encounter. Despite winning their last five games, Villa have conceded a goal in each of them and the same is expected here.
With it difficult to pick a winner between these two sides, both teams to score @1.65 odds provides the best bet.
Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images
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