Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Villa Park sets the stage for a mouth-watering Premier League top-four six-pointer between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

It’s been over a century since Aston Villa last won 14 consecutive league games on home turf, yet Unai Emery’s side did just that in midweek Premier League action. In doing so, the ‘Lions’ defeated perennial champions Manchester City 1-0, attempting a jaw-dropping 22 shots on goal while conceding just two to leapfrog the ‘Citizens’ in the standings and maintain a four-point distance of pacesetters Arsenal. After ending a decade-long winless run against Man City, Villa will be confident of avenging another underwhelming streak, having lost their last four top-flight H2Hs against Arsenal. Emery has an added motive to make it happen as he faces a side that sacked in 2019. The Spaniard had been unbeaten in four career matches against his former employers (W1, D3) before slumping to a 4-2 defeat in this corresponding fixture last term.

On the other hand, Arsenal lived up to their tag as ‘extra-time specialists’ in midweek, with Declan Rice’s 97th-minute strike propelling them to a nerve-shredding 4-3 win at promoted Luton Town. In addition to making it six consecutive victories in all competitions, the ‘Gunners’ reached an unprecedented feat at Kenilworth Road, becoming the first-ever Premier League side to win 5+ games with a goal on or beyond the 90th minute across one calendar year. But with four of their five away league triumphs this season yielding a narrow one-goal margin, Mikel Arteta’s men should avoid complacency. Adding to this sentiment, Arsenal’s recent form on the road is far from telling, as they’ve only managed three wins on their last seven competitive travels (D1, L3).