Aston Villa sit third in the Premier League table on 27 points
Arsenal remain top of the league with a five-point cushion
Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Arsenal's Premier League title credentials will be put to the test on Saturday when they visit Villa Park to face Aston Villa in the day's lunchtime kick-off.
The Gunners are in the driving seat at present thanks to their five-point cushion over Manchester City, but they face a Villa side who are only six points behind them in third.
The latest Aston Villa vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Arsenal's 2-0 win against Brentford in midweek came at a cost as Cristhian Mosquera picked up an injury, while Declan Rice was replaced due to a calf problem.
Rice has reportedly claimed he will be fit for Saturday's encounter, but Mosquera is a doubt, as are William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.
Centre-back Gabriel is still unavailable until after Christmas, while Kai Havertz remains sidelined with a knee issue.
Villans goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez picked up a back injury during the warm-up ahead of the 4-3 win over Brighton and he is set to be replaced by Marco Bizot once again.
Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings are both due back in January from knee and thigh injuries.
The stats
Villa have picked up their form after a slow start and Unai Emery's side have won six games in a row in all competitions.
At Villa Park, the Villans have won five of their seven games, conceding only five goals.
Arsenal have the joint-best away record in the Premier League after taking 14 points from seven fixtures.
The Gunners are unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal are unbeaten in two games against Villa, having won 2-0 at Villa Park in August 2024, before securing a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in January 2025.
The latest Aston Villa vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
This fixture sees two of the best teams in the league go head-to-head. Villa have really found some momentum in recent weeks and they will fancy their chances of scoring against the Gunners.
Emery's side have won eight games in a row at home in all competitions and they have scored two or more goals in five of those outings.
Arsenal's unbeaten record is formidable and they have made life awkward for their rivals away from home.
The Gunners may have only scored nine goals on their travels, but they have the quality in the final third to trouble Villa.
The injuries to the visitors' backline is a big bonus for Villa, who should be able to have their say in front of goal.
January's meeting between the two sides finished 2-2 and another thrilling game can be expected this weekend.
