Arsenal host Aston Villa in a blockbuster showdown in the Premier League’s title race.
Victory would move Arsenal five points clear at the summit of second-placed Manchester City and six points clear of third-placed Villa.
Villa can move up to second and level on 42 points with Arsenal if they win this game.
Team News
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-1 win at home to Brighton, but Jurrien Timber (knock) and Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) both missed that game and are set to be ruled out for this match.
Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera (both ankle), Ben White (hamstring) and Kai Havertz (knee) remain sidelined.
Villa have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-1 comeback victory at Chelsea, but Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are both suspended, after the pair picked up their fifth bookings of the season.
Evann Guessand (international duty), Pau Torres (knock), Ross Barkley (knee) and Tyrone Mings (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Villa at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday 30 December at 8:15pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have won one of their last five meetings against Aston Villa (W1, D1, L3).
- Villa have claimed seven points in their last five visits to Arsenal (W2, D1, L2).
- Ollie Watkins has scored in Villa’s last two trips to Arsenal (W1, D1).
- Arsenal have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight matches (W5, D2, L1).
- Villa are yet to keep a clean away in the UK capital in four previous league visits to London-based opposition this season (W3, L1).
Prediction
For all of their dominance against Brighton, Arsenal were lucky that Georginio Rutter’s own-goal clinched the win for them because they were otherwise wasteful in their final touches, which is something that can’t be repeated if they’re to continue sitting top of the table come the end of this matchweek.
Villa though were outplayed at Chelsea in the opening 52-odd minutes if not for their resilient defending before Unai Emery’s substitutions unlocked pace and intensity, which saw them rip Chelsea’s defence apart with little response so they need to bring that quality from the start here.
Arsenal though have William Saliba and Gabriel available unlike the reverse fixture at Villa Park earlier this month so I expect a better defensive display from the Gunners, which should see them have enough defensive grit to grind out a draw.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa
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