Arsenal vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Mikel Arteta, under pressure at the Emirates Stadium, saw his Arsenal side earn a much-needed come-from-behind win against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby in midweek as they now welcome former boss Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side to Islington this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 18th January, 2025: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – NBC
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Universo
Arsenal Team News: Calafiori a doubt
Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori, who has had a stop-start time of it since joining from Bologna in the summer, remains a doubt for this weekend and faces a late fitness test for this one.
The Gunners have several confirmed absentees with Ethan Nwaneri sidelined alongside key man Bukayo Saka as well as Gabriel Jesus, who requires surgery having suffered an ACL injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli
Unavailable: Tomiyasu (Injured), White (Injured), Nwaneri (Injured), Saka (Injured), Jesus (Injured)
Questionable: Calafiori (Injured)
Aston Villa Team News: Malen available
Unai Emery has confirmed that this month's big money signing, Donyell Malen for a fee believed to be in the region of £20 million from Borussia Dortmund, will be available for selection this weekend.
However, the Villains do remain without a couple of key players such as centre-back duo Diego Carlos and Pau Torres as well as club captain John McGinn and England international Ross Barkley.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins
Unavailable: Carlos (Injured), Torres (Injured), Barkley (Injured), McGinn (Injured)
Questionable:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Prediction
After a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and then a penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, both at the Emirates Stadium, the pressure was mounting on Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, especially when Tottenham Hotspur took the lead via Son Heung-min the other day. However, a Dominic Solanke own goal and strike from Leandro Trossard turned the game on its head by half-time to keep the Gunners just about in the title race. They now face an Aston Villa side that earned themselves a much-needed 1-0 win against Everton at Goodison Park in David Moyes’ homecoming thanks to a second-half winner from Ollie Watkins. Villa will fancy their chances of controlling an often blunt Arsenal side and it may well be quite a low-scoring affair in north London this weekend.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Tip: Under 3.5 goals
