Aston Villa Set to Battle Arsenal: Key Matchups, Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed

Arsenal begin the weekend's Premier League fixtures with a trip to face the impressive Aston Villa on Saturday.

No team has collected more points than the Gunners in their last six league matches except Villa, as Unai Emery's squad has bounced back from a disappointing start to the 2025–26 season. Their most recent triumph, a sixth consecutive win across all competitions achieved through a thrilling 4–3 result against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday evening, propelled them to third place in the standings.

The Birmingham-based club sits merely six points behind table-toppers Arsenal, who secured a comfortable 2–0 victory over Brentford during the week following their point-dropping performance at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel Arteta's team has encountered difficulties against Emery's Villa squad, however. They have managed only one victory in their last four encounters, and their struggles in this matchup arguably prevented them from claiming the Premier League crown in 2023–24.

Manchester City will therefore be hoping for another helping hand from the Midlands outfit, who could climb to second position with a fifth consecutive league triumph. Arsenal remain undefeated since their 1–0 loss at Anfield in August.

Here's Sports Illustrated's preview of this weekend's Saturday afternoon fixture.

What Time Does Aston Villa vs. Arsenal Kick-Off?

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to Watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal on TV

Aston Villa Team News

Emiliano Martínez's unexpected absence during the midweek Brighton match was due to a back problem, which led to Marco Bizot starting between the posts. The Argentine goalkeeper faces a fitness battle to be ready for his former team's visit, though expectations suggest he'll reclaim his spot at Villa Park.

The home side will definitely be missing Tyrone Mings, while Ross Barkley is dealing with a minor injury concern.

Emery made some changes during the week and will likely restore Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans to his starting eleven on Saturday. Ollie Watkins boasts an impressive scoring record against the Gunners and enters this match having recently broken his lengthy Premier League goal drought.

Aston Villa Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): MartÍnez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.

Arsenal Team News

Arteta typically keeps injury updates close to his chest, and the Arsenal manager remained characteristically reserved when discussing Saturday's match preparations.

The main concern surrounds Declan Rice, who was substituted late in the Brentford game due to what appeared to be a calf problem. The midfielder's participation remains uncertain for the weekend, though William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are expected to be available once more.

Arteta indicated that Friday's training session would be crucial in determining whether these three players will feature at Villa Park.

Cristhian Mosquera's ankle problem will probably rule him out of Saturday's encounter, making Saliba's return essential for Arsenal. Without him, Jurriën Timber would likely partner Piero Hincapié in central defense, as Gabriel remains unavailable.

Kai Havertz might not return to action until the new year begins.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Aston Villa

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Aston Villa (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapié, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Merino, Eze.

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal Score Prediction

Aston Villa currently lead the Premier League's form charts, though Emery's side has at times failed to fully convince observers. Nevertheless, their comeback performance after trailing 2–0 at the Amex on Wednesday was genuinely impressive, and there's a growing sense of momentum building around this squad.

An injury-depleted Arsenal still poses the greatest challenge for any Premier League opponent right now, and they certainly won't be intimidated by the Villans' current run. Yet, the Gunners rarely find things straightforward when visiting Villa Park, with a Watkins goal almost certain, and the home team appears well-positioned to create the decisive moment that secures them a positive result on Saturday.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1–1 Arsenal