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Arsenal host Aston Villa at the Emirates in the Premier League with the Gunners looking to keep up the pressure on Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to within four points of the Reds at the summit of the Premier League after their north London derby success in midweek, though yet more injury strife indicates that they may need to spend in the transfer market to keep up their pursuit. While Liverpool do still have a game in hand, Arteta is certain that a re-energised title race will continue to twist and turn.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, will recognise that victory here would be a huge boost in the hunt for European football. They dealt their opponents a huge blow during last season and will be out to enact something similar in London this evening as they continue to balance league action with a promising continental campaign.
Follow all of the latest from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
Kick-off! Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
We’re underway.
Arsenal v Aston Villa – Premier League LIVE
The players emerge on to the Emirates pitch on what is a cold night in north London. The one is about to get going…
Arsenal v Aston Villa – Premier League LIVE
Will the Arsenal dressing room have been deflated by those two late goals from Darwin Nunez at Brentford? They need to put that result out of their heads and start quickly against a dangerous Aston Villa side here this evening.
Match facts
Aston Villa are hoping to beat Arsenal in successive away league matches for the first time since 1993.
Arsenal have lost five of the past 10 Premier League meetings, as many as they had in their previous 46 against Villa.
None of the last 18 Premier League encounters between these sides have been drawn.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
How will Arsenal’s remodelled backline cope this evening? Aston Villa have plenty of talent in their forward line, as evidenced by their bench strength – Jhon Duran, Leon Bailey and new recruit Donyell Malen all lurk ready to make an impact if required.
Head-to-head
These two sides have met a total of 187 times in the past, with Arsenal winning 82, Villa winning 66 and 39 ending as draws.
Earlier this season, Arsenal eased to a 2-0 away win at Villa Park, though the Villans won both matches last season (1-0 at home and 2-0 away) to scupper Arsenal’s title challenge.
Unai Emery expects tough outing against Arsenal
“We can feel a little bit of confidence after we won in Everton, but the challenge is to be competitive,” Unai Emery said yesterday. “Through being competitive, we can be close to taking a good result.
“Arsenal tomorrow will be very, very difficult. Every match we are facing is being very, very difficult – in Everton as well.
“We are preparing the match, we are very motivated and we’re going to try to play, improving things we did in Everton and improving things we did away in the last matches against top teams in the Premier League.
“Tomorrow we play one of the candidates and favourites to win the Premier League.”
Unai Emery confirms Aston Villa defender in talks over departure
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has confirmed Diego Carlos is in discussions to leave the club this month.
Brazilian defender Carlos, who joined from Sevilla in 2022, has been linked with a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce and a deal could go through before the end of the January window.
The 31-year-old has not played in the last three games because of a “small injury” and will not be involved today.
Asked if he will still be at Villa Park at the end of the month, Emery said: “I don’t know. The medical report this morning was that he was not feeling good and he is not going to train for tomorrow.
“I know they are more or less in conversation about the possibility to leave but I don’t know.
“In case someone is leaving we will have to sign another player to replace him, each player can leave.”
Why Arsenal need a 10-game winning run to the Premier League title – and it must start now
It was Aston Villa who delivered a crucial, critical blow to Arsenal last season, something Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to avoid tonight. Lawrence Ostlere examines what they might be need to keep up their chase of Liverpool:
Liverpool’s surprise complication hands Arsenal hope to deliver overdue Premier League drama
Is the title race alive? Liverpool’s recent stumbles suggest so, as Miguel Delaney explains:
Source: independent.co.uk
