The Premier League weekend ignites with a monumental top-of-the-table clash on Saturday lunchtime as League leaders Arsenal travel to Villa Park to face Unai Emery’s high-flying Aston Villa.
Mikel Arteta’s side restored their five-point cushion at the summit midweek. They secured a professional 2-0 victory over Brentford. Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka sealed the win. Now, they face a stern test against Aston Villa. The Villans surged to third in the table on Wednesday. This followed a thrilling 4-3 comeback win away at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Crucially, the stakes could not be higher. No side has won more Premier League games than Aston Villa since the start of March. They sit level with Manchester City on 16 wins. Conversely, Arsenal arrive boasting a historic defensive streak. They have not conceded more than twice in any of their last 108 matches in all competitions.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, 6 December 2025
- Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- VAR: Darren England
- Last Meeting: Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa, 18 January 2025, Premier League
Team News
Aston Villa
Unai Emery is sweating on the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The World Cup winner pulled out of the warm-up against Brighton. Reportedly, he suffered a lower back injury. If he fails to recover, deputy Marco Bizot will continue in goal. Bizot deputised effectively at the Amex.
The hosts remain without Ross Barkley. A knee injury rules him out until February. Additionally, Tyrone Mings remains sidelined until the new year with a thigh issue.
However, Ollie Watkins is a guaranteed starter. He netted a brace against Brighton. The striker relishes this fixture. In fact, he has scored six goals in his 10 Premier League games against Arsenal. He has only netted more against Brighton.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s defensive resources are stretched to the breaking point. Unfortunately, William Saliba missed the midweek win over Brentford with a knock. Additionally, Gabriel Magalhães remains sidelined with a hamstring injury until after Christmas. To make matters worse, Cristhian Mosquera suffered an ankle injury on Wednesday. He forced a substitution, leaving Mikel Arteta with a potential crisis at centre-back.
Midfielder Declan Rice is also a doubt. He came off with a calf issue against the Bees. However, he indicated post-match that he was “fine”. In better news, Viktor Gyökeres is expected to return to the starting lineup. The manager rested him midweek, only using him as a late substitute.
Form Guide
Aston Villa
Villa have turned Villa Park into a fortress. In fact, they have lost just one of their last 25 Premier League home games (W16, D8). Furthermore, they have won each of their last five matches since a defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
However, they often struggle when the stakes are highest. Since their return to the Premier League in 2019, Villa have lost six of their eight games against sides starting the day top of the table. Notably, their only victory in that run came against Arsenal in December 2023.
Defensively, aerial duels could be a major concern for Emery. Villa have conceded four of their last six home goals via headers. Conversely, Arsenal have scored eight of their last 13 away goals from headers. This suggests set-pieces could be decisive tomorrow.
Arsenal
The Gunners have been imperious on the road. In fact, they have lost just one of their last 21 Premier League away games (W11 D9). Mikel Arteta boasts a formidable travel record. He holds the fourth-highest win rate (53%) of any manager with 100+ Premier League away games.
While Villa Park is a daunting venue, history favours the visitors. Arsenal have won 15 Premier League games at Villa Park. This is their joint-highest tally at any away ground. However, recent history suggests a tighter contest. Villa have won five of their last 12 meetings against the Gunners. This matches their win total from the previous 45 encounters.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa predicted XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins
Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; White, Timber, Hincapié, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli
How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage starting at 11:30 GMT.
Read- Latest Arsenal injury news on Rice, Saliba, Trossard and Mosquera
See more- Amorim defends team selections amid Mainoo minutes
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