Aston Villa vs Arsenal prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2025-12-05 12:30.
[p]Two sides in the top three open the Premier League’s weekend programme, with pace-setting Arsenal travelling to in-form Aston Villa.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A welcome return to goalscoring form for Ollie Watkins helped Villa come from 2-0 down to beat Brighton 4-3 on Wednesday evening, ending the matchday third in the table after winning their last six competitive matches. Following four straight league victories, Unai Emery has now won more Premier League games in charge of the club (62) than any other manager and he’ll be keen to extend that record, particularly given the Villans have now won five home league games in a row including beating second-placed Manchester City 1-0, from which they can draw inspiration ahead of another testing encounter.[/p]
[p]Leaders Arsenal, who were managed by Emery before Mikel Arteta took over, will have plenty to say about that as they have a five-point cushion at the top after beating Brentford 2-0 on Wednesday, with the Gunners’ latest defensive masterclass meaning eight of their ten league wins this term (D3, L1) have been accompanied by a clean sheet. While the North Londoners have conceded in both of their last two league away fixtures (D2), they remain highly effective travellers as no side has picked up more points on the road in the Premier League this term (W4, D2, L1).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Arsenal have won five of the last eight H2Hs (D1, L2), while four of the last six meetings here produced exactly one goal (Villa: W3, L3).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Villa are yet to score in the opening 15 minutes in the league this season.[/p]
[p]Villa have kept three consecutive clean sheets at home in the Premier League, last achieving four in March/April 2023.[/p]
[p]Arsenal have won all eight league games in which they were leading at half-time this season.[/p]
[p]Arsenal haven’t scored in both halves of any of their seven away league fixtures this term.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]All three of Watkins’ Premier League goals for Villa this season came between the 35th minute and half-time and he’s scored six times in ten Premier League games against Arsenal. Bukayo Saka has three goal contributions (G1, A2) across his last three Arsenal appearances, with four of his seven goals in all competitions this term arriving after the 65th minute.[/p]
[p]Villa remain without Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings, while Arsenal pair William Saliba and Leandro Trossard missed the Brentford game with minor knocks, and Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera came off injured on Wednesday.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]While Villa are in impressive form, they have shown vulnerability of late, and the visitors look good enough to take advantage of any slip-ups, so our tip is to back Arsenal to win.[/p]
[p][i]Author: John Pennington[/i][/p]