Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Arsenal have overcome a challenging three-match winless streak with a crucial victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a fiercely contested derby (2:1). Aston Villa are another team with a history of causing upsets. Neither side will settle for a draw in this clash for three points: one side aiming for the title, the other chasing European competition.
Arsenal
The setbacks Arsenal faced at the start of this year didn't significantly impact their league standing. They were eliminated from the FA Cup against Manchester United (1:1, 3:5 after penalties) despite holding the edge during the match, and they teetered on the brink of elimination from the League Cup after losing to Newcastle United (0:2). A draw with Brighton in the same fixture week when Liverpool also drew was crucial. The win over Tottenham Hotspur brought Arsenal closer to the top spot. Despite being without Bukayo Saka until spring and the confirmed season-ending loss of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal have other scoring outlets. Even centre-back Gabriel Magalhães has netted five times, thanks to Arsenal's potent free kicks and corners. Their unbeaten run in the Premier League now spans 11 matches.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa score less frequently than the Londoners (31 vs 41) and concede more goals (32 vs 19). In their last two fixtures, they conceded just once, though they faced teams unlikely to impose serious threats upfront: Leicester City (2:1) and Everton (1:0). However, when Aston Villa encounter a team with a strong attacking line, it often ends negatively for them, as seen in matches against Brighton (2:2) and Newcastle United (0:3).
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Prediction
These encounters between London and Birmingham clubs have long been contentious — there have been no draws in their last 18 Premier League meetings. Looking back, since the 2021/22 season, Arsenal have claimed five victories, while Aston Villa have secured two. We are backing a win for the hosts.
