Two of the Premier League top three meet in the Saturday evening game as Aston Villa entertain league leaders Arsenal.
Aston Villa extended their incredible home winning run to 14 with a superb 1-0 win over champions Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
Leon Bailey’s deflected effort was the difference, but Villa could have scored many more against a struggling City side.
Arsenal edged a seven goal thriller away to Luton Town, with Declan Rice scoring a 97th minute winner.
David Raya had a poor game for Arsenal in goal though, with two of the goals conceded the keepers fault.
Premier League form: Aston Villa W3 D1 L1; Arsenal W4 D0 L1
Premier League top scorers
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins 8 goals
Arsenal – Eddie Nkeitah & Bukayo Saka 5 goals each
Match history
Arsenal have a very good recent record against Villa, winning the last four meetings between the two teams.
The 4-2 win for Arsenal at Villa Park back in February was the last time Villa failed to win a league game in front of their own supporters.
Last five Premier League meetings
Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 4 – 18/02/23
Arsenal 2 Aston Villa 1 – 31/08/22
Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1 – 19/03/22
Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 1 – 22/10/21
Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 0 – 06/02/21
Team news
Despite the short turn around, there is a good chance Unai Emery names the same XI that beat Manchester City on Wednesday.
That would mean Matty Cash and Moussa Diaby remain substitutes, with Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans preferred.
Arsenal could also name a similar XI, although Oleksandr Zinchenko will likely replace Jakob Kiwor as left-back.
Raya’s spot as number one is under threat, but he will probably continue here.
Expected starting XI’s
Aston Villa (4-5-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, Tielemans, McGinn; Watkins
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Predictions
Result: Draw
Both sides are in excellent form and it will be hard to split the two on Saturday
Correct Score: 1-1
A score draw looks the best bet, hard to see both teams failing to score
Anytime Goalscorer: Bukayo Saka
Saka has scored on his last two visits to Villa Park
