Premier League: Gameweek 22
Time: 8:30pm EAT/ 5:30pm GMT
Venue: Emirates Stadium
What you need to know
- In search of another victory against his former employers, Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery brings his Villa team to the Emirates to face Arsenal in Saturday evening’s Premier League match.
- Both teams enjoyed success in the midweek fixtures, with the Gunners achieving a crucial 2-1 win in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, Villa handed David Moyes a 1-0 defeat in his return to Everton.
- Already completing his Arsenal revenge mission after his premature 2019 departure, Emery delivered the killer blow to the Gunners’ Premier League hopes last April, masterminding a 2-0 triumph for Villa in what remains the hosts’ most recent top-flight loss on home soil.
- There hasn’t been a draw between these two sides since November 2012.
- Arsenal are second in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand while Aston Villa sit at seventh position, three points off the top four spot.
Form – Last six games
Arsenal (Premier League): WDWWWD
Arsenal (all competitions): WLLDWW
Aston Villa (Premier League): WWDLWL
Aston Villa (all competitions): WWWDLW
Head-to-head – Last six games
Arsenal: 4 wins
Draw: 0 draws
Aston Villa: 2 wins
Possible starting line-ups
Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Aston Villa:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Tielemans, Bailey, Watkins.
Players to watch
Gabriel Magalhães – Arsenal
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
Injury list
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Ben White
Gabriel Jesus
Ricardo Calafiori
Aston Villa
Ross Barkley
Diego Carlos
John McGinn
Pau Torres
