English Premier
2025-01-18 - Arsenal vs Aston Villa
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18th January 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
Twenty-four hours earlier, Premier League leaders Liverpool had dropped two points in the title race and so it was up to Arsenal to try and finally begin to close the gap between the clubs. Missed opportunities over the last month have frustrated the fans and going 0-1 behind against Tottenham Hotspur after a tough week would have raised the anxiety levels at the Emirates Stadium.
This time Arsenal were able to find a clinical touch, although they were helped by some woeful Tottenham Hotspur defending. Three points earned have improved Arsenal's home record to 7-3-0 in the Premier League and they are now 4 points behind Liverpool in the standings.
Arsenal opened the calendar year with an important win at Brentford, but a draw with Brighton in the Premier League was followed by a home defeat in the League Cup Semi Final First Leg and being Knocked Out of the FA Cup by Manchester United. The victory over Tottenham Hotspur will certainly improve the mood within the Emirates Stadium ahead of this fixture and Arsenal have won 4 of their last 5 Premier League games here.
Riccardo Calafiori is hoping to return to the squad this weekend. Mikel Arteta made a few changes to his starting eleven for the win over Tottenham Hotspur after the Cup defeat to Manchester United and he may choose to make one or two rotations here.
Aston Villa
Missed chances could have proved costly for Aston Villa when Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a late chance to earn Everton a draw at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Instead Unai Emery's men earned an important three points and they look to be in good form ahead of big Premier League and Champions League fixtures to be played through the remainder of the month.
They have quietly moved back up into 7th place in the Premier League table and Aston Villa are only 3 points behind Newcastle United in an increasingly competitive race for the top four places. The Villains were able to improve their away record to 4-1-5 after the win at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in 4 games in all competitions since their 3-0 defeat at St James' Park and they have won 3 in a row ahead of this fixture. It was an important win at Goodison Park and snapped Aston Villa's run of 5 away Premier League defeats during which they conceded at least twice in each loss.
The squad that travelled to the North West during the week should be available to Unai Emery at the home of one of his former clubs.
Head to Head
Last season Aston Villa did the Premier League double over Arsenal, but it is The Gunners who won the opening League game between the clubs at Villa Park back in August.
Arsenal had beaten Aston Villa twice in a row at the Emirates Stadium before the 0-2 defeat here that many have pointed out as the one that cost The Gunners the title.
Prediction
There will be plenty of eyes and ears on the 3pm kick offs on Saturday afternoon as fans travel to the Emirates Stadium, but the Arsenal players will be reminded by their manager that their sole focus should be on earning three points.
Overlooking Aston Villa would be a massive mistake and the players won't need to be reminded about that considering the 0-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium against this opponent in April 2024.
That result is one that so many believe was the turning point in the Premier League title race last season and Arsenal cannot afford too many more slip ups as they chase leaders Liverpool. The latter are playing first this weekend, but the gap at the start of this round of fixtures is down to 4 points thanks to Arsenal's win over Tottenham Hotspur.
It was an important win on Wednesday, although Arsenal are still lacking the clinical touch in the final third that will push them forward. Fans are still hoping that can be resolved in the January transfer window, but the current group of players are capable of creating chances and they will give Aston Villa a real test.
The win at Goodison Park has maintained the positive run that Aston Villa have been putting together over the last couple of weeks, but this is a team that had been struggling away from home. Prior to the win over Everton, Aston Villa had lost 5 away Premier League games in a row and had conceded far too many goals for Unai Emery's liking in those defeats.
The former Arsenal manager has really exploited some of Mikel Arteta's system and Unai Emery's team were unfortunate to lose at Villa Park in August.
However, they did ride their luck in the first half of their 0-2 win at the Emirates Stadium in April last year and Aston Villa will be hoping they can frustrate their hosts again.
It will be tough considering the chances that teams have been able to create against Aston Villa, who are missing Pau Torres and John McGinn this Saturday. They will cause Arsenal some problems with the pace and quality in the final third, but the title contenders showed some real character in coming from behind to beat Spurs in the North London derby and the home team might find two goals here.
If they can hit that total, it may be enough for Arsenal to earn another crucial three points to keep the pressure on Liverpool.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal to Win & Over 1 Total Goal (Bet Builder) at 1.75 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
