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Arsenal v Aston Villa

BBC
·2-min read

Team news

Arsenal will make a late decision on the availability of full-back Riccardo Calafiori, who has missed their past two matches with a minor injury.

Manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday that none of the club's longer-term absentees are close to returning.

Aston Villa's new signing, Donyell Malen, will be involved against the club where he spent time as a youth player.

Diego Carlos remains unavailable amid speculation over his future, while John McGinn, Ross Barkley and Pau Torres are also still out.

Match facts

Head-to-head

  • Aston Villa won 2-0 in last season's corresponding fixture and are vying to beat Arsenal in successive away league games for the first time since 1993.

  • Arsenal have lost five of the past 10 Premier League meetings, as many as they had in their previous 46 against Villa.

  • None of the last 18 Premier League encounters between these sides have been drawn.

Arsenal

  • Arsenal are unbeaten in 13 Premier League home fixtures since a 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa last April (W10, D3). Their most recent longer run without defeat at the Emirates spanned 16 games in 2018-19 under current Villa boss Unai Emery.

  • The Gunners are unbeaten in 44 matches in all competitions in which they've scored since a 2-1 loss against Fulham in December 2023 (W36, D8).

  • They have scored 26 goals from corners in the Premier League since the start of last season, the most of any team.

  • Arsenal have had a greater expected goals total than their opponent in 26 of their 31 games in all competitions this season, including 19 of the last 20.

  • Martin Odegaard has created 42 chances in all competitions since returning from injury in November, almost twice as many as any other Arsenal player. That includes 14 chances in his past two appearances.

Aston Villa

  • Aston Villa have won their first two Premier League games of a calendar year for the first time since 2009, when they triumphed in their opening three.

  • They ended a run of five straight away league defeats by beating Everton 1-0 on Wednesday. That was their first clean sheet in 12 top-flight away fixtures since a 2-0 win at Arsenal last April.

  • Unai Emery's side have conceded a goal from their opponent's first shot on target in 11 Premier League matches this season, more than any other team.

  • They have also conceded 11 top-flight goals after the 75th minute in the current campaign. Only Southampton, who have let in 12, have a worse record.

  • Emery has reached 60 wins in 113 games in charge, the quickest of any Aston Villa manager.

  • This season, Ollie Watkins has missed a league-high 19 of his 27 big chances – defined as a situation in which a player is expected to score.