The Premier League action continues tonight as Aston Villa welcome Arsenal to Villa Park in a match that could provide another early indication of both teams’ ambitions this season.
Arsenal enter the contest with confidence after their impressive opening-week victory, while Villa are desperate for a response after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brighton. The contrasting starts have placed additional pressure on Unai Emery’s side to deliver in front of their home supporters.
For Arsenal, the objective is straightforward: maintain their winning momentum and avoid dropping points in a fixture that has historically caused them problems. Mikel Arteta’s side have had extra preparation time ahead of the match, giving the Gunners an advantage heading into the encounter.
Villa, however, cannot be written off. Playing at Villa Park could give Emery’s players the energy needed to produce a reaction, and Arsenal will know they cannot afford to become complacent.
The latest predictions generally favour Arsenal. One statistical model gives the Gunners a 48.7% chance of victory, compared with 26.7% for Villa, while 1-2 is listed as the most likely scoreline.
SportNexus prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal.
But football does not always follow the numbers. Can Villa shock the reigning champions, or will Arsenal march to another important victory?
Tonight at Villa Park, we find out.