Arsenal Clash with Aston Villa: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Not many Premier League fixtures hold as much significance as Arsenal's encounter with Aston Villa on Tuesday evening at the Emirates Stadium.
Should Arsenal secure victory, they would stretch their advantage at the summit to five points, heading into the campaign's latter half with commanding control and moving closer to their first championship since 2003-04.
Villa, however, are soaring high, having secured 11 straight victories across all competitions. Success for them would draw them level with Arsenal, not only enhancing their own championship aspirations but also creating an opportunity for Manchester City to surpass the Gunners should they defeat Sunderland on New Year's Day.
Given the enormous implications, here's Sports Illustrated's comprehensive preview of the match, featuring viewing information, anticipated lineups, and crucial discussion points.
What Time Does Arsenal vs. Aston Villa Kick Off?
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Arsenal | Aston Villa |
|---|---|
Arsenal 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion - 27/12/25 | Chelsea 1–2 Aston Villa - 27/12/25 |
Arsenal 1–1 (8–7p) Crystal Palace - 23/12/25 | Aston Villa 2–1 Man Utd - 21/12/25 |
Everton 0–1 Arsenal - 20/12/25 | West Ham 2–3 Aston Villa - 14/12/25 |
Arsenal 2–1 Wolves - 13/12/25 | Basel 1–2 Aston Villa - 11/12/25 |
Club Brugge 0–3 Arsenal - 10/12/25 | Aston Villa 2–1 Arsenal - 06/12/25 |
How to Watch Arsenal vs. Aston Villa on TV, Live Stream
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Premier League |
United States | NBCSN, Peacock |
Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Mexico | FOX One |
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal approach the encounter with Aston Villa facing multiple fitness worries, though most represent continuing problems.
Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, and Max Downman remain unavailable, while Jurriën Timber's participation remains uncertain. Timber was absent from the Brighton match following an uncomfortable fall during the cup victory over Crystal Palace, which led to Declan Rice filling in at right-back—a position he might occupy again versus Villa.
Kai Havertz is approaching fitness after an extended knee injury absence, but his involvement against Villa appears unlikely at this stage.
The most significant positive for Mikel Arteta is Gabriel's comeback in central defense. The Brazilian featured as a substitute against Brighton following over a month's absence and is expected to start, delivering a substantial boost to Arsenal's defensive line.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Aston Villa
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Aston Villa (4-3-3): Raya; Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.
Aston Villa Team News
Similar to Arsenal, Aston Villa enter the match with several fitness issues, though none represent fresh concerns. Extended absentees Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, and Tyrone Mings will continue their recovery until the New Year.
The greater worry for Unai Emery involves suspensions and temporary unavailability. Evan Guessand is representing the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations precisely when he was finding his rhythm, while Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara will both be absent due to yellow card suspensions accumulated during the Chelsea fixture.
Their unavailability constitutes a major setback for Villa—especially Cash, who would have been crucial in targeting Myles Lewis-Skelly's defensive weaknesses at left-back.
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa Score Prediction
Forecasting this encounter feels like attempting to determine a victor between legendary heavyweights—both teams possess the attacking threat to deliver a knockout punch, and the outcome could truly swing either direction.
However, Aston Villa might have the advantage.
They've proven problematic for Arsenal lately, claiming victory in three of their previous five meetings, and their present streak is impressive—11 straight wins across all competitions represents a club milestone. Arsenal, despite continuing to collect points, haven't displayed the same conviction in their displays.
Fitness concerns could also prove decisive. Timber's unavailability at right-back pushes Rice into an unfamiliar role, and losing that defensive solidity represents a significant concern. Additionally, Ollie Watkins is finally discovering his scoring touch, and he possesses a knack for troubling the Gunners, netting six times in 11 Premier League outings against them.
Arsenal retain the talent to deliver a decisive strike, but in this scenario, Villa's reliability and current trajectory provide them with the upper hand.