Arsenal will play Aston Villa this lunchtime. Get all the team news here…
Arsenal They have the chance to go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League – for a few hours, at least – when they visit Aston Villa.
The Gunners, who beat Brentford on Wednesday evening, open the weekend’s action with a trip to Villa Park to take on the home side who showed their mettle by coming back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 over Brighton.
A win for Mikel Arteta’s men will increase the pressure on second-placed Manchester City, who face Sunderland later this afternoon.
Villa start the weekend in third place, one point behind Cityhaving won their last six matches in all competitions.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Villa, who did not win their first league game until the end of September.
#AD 18+ minimum deposit. Free bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use when qualifying bets are settled. Minimum odds, stakes and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits share. GambleAware.org Time limits, terms and conditions apply.
Aston Villa team news
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez returns after missing the match against Brighton due to a back injury.
Midfielder Ross Barkley and defender Tyrone Mings will miss until 2026 due to injury.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Matsen; Onana, Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Deeney, Garcia, Boogaard, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.
Arsenal team news
Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Joren Timber both return after being rested against Brentford. Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Christian Mosquera sit on the bench.
Leandro Trossard is fit enough to start on the bench alongside 16-year-old Marlee Salmon.
Gabriel Jesus and Max Doman have not been included in the matchday squad and will instead feature for the Under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United as they look to build their fitness.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiore, Zobimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Salmon, Martinelli, Gjokeres, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaniri, Lewis-Skelly
How to watch Villa vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream online
The match will kick off on Saturday at 12:30 GMT (07:30 ET / 04:30 PT), with live TV coverage in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
TNT Sports costs Ā£29.99 per month Discover+which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a wide range of devices including smart TVs and games consoles.
Aston Villa and Arsenal match statistics
Only Chelsea and Liverpool have attempted (3,274) and completed (2,916) more passes between 15 and 30 yards in the Premier League this season.
Aided by a 70% win rate in the Europa League, Emery won 55% of matches during his tenure at Arsenal, which began in May 2018 and ended in November 2019 after a seven-match winless run.
Villa have not conceded a home goal in the league for more than four hours and 42 minutes, most recently in their 2-1 win over Burnley on October 5.
They have won eight consecutive home games in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on August 31.
Only Arsenal (19) and Manchester City (18) have surpassed Villa’s total of 16 points at home in the league in 2025/26, while the Gunners (2) are the only team to have conceded fewer than the Villans (5) at home.
Of players who have scored at least four goals in the Championship this season, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (1.11), Brentford’s Igor Thiago (0.87) and Bournemouth’s Junior Cropi (0.88) have scored more goals per 90 minutes than Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen (0.77).
Arsenal have conceded four fewer goals (7) than any other team in the Premier League this season
Their expected goals total of 7.2 makes them the best in the division and 7.9 ahead of their closest rivals in this regard, Manchester City.
They have won 11 and lost one of their last 21 league games away from home
Arteta’s side have won 16 of the 17 games in all the competitions they have led this season, as well as all 15 when they have scored the opening goal.
https://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3D9490M-1.jpg
2025-12-06 11:20:00
