Arsenal vs Aston Villa preview: All the key talking points ahead of top-of-table clash – The Athletic

Premier League leaders Arsenal host third-place Aston Villa on Tuesday in a vital match in the title race.

Unai Emery’s side, who are just three points behind the London club in the table, are in sensational form and a victory at the Emirates Stadium would be their 12th in a row in all competitions.

The sides have already played this month, with Villa winning 2-1 at home on December 6 thanks to Emiliano Buendia’s late strike.

Here, Dan Sheldon — one of The Athletic’s Arsenal writers — and Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell discuss the key talking points ahead of the game, which kicks off at 8.15pm UK time (3.15pm ET).

Is this the biggest game of the season so far for your team and how important is it to the title race?

Sheldon: With Manchester City hitting their groove — winning six Premier League games on the bounce — and closing the gap to Arsenal at the top of the table to just two points, every game is going to be crucial for Mikel Arteta’s side.

In that context, yes, it is the biggest game of Arsenal’s campaign to date; but you could say the same for every match between now and May.

Tanswell: Not from a Villa standpoint. If anything, there isn’t lots of pressure on Emery’s side due to their eight consecutive league wins. They are comfortably in the Champions League places and the pressure is on Arsenal to deliver.

How is Emery seen by your club’s fans?

Sheldon: Despite reaching a Europa League final — they lost 4-1 to Chelsea — in his first season in 2018-19, you could either view his time at Arsenal as a failure or make the case that being the first manager to fill Arsene Wenger’s shoes was always going to be a difficult task.

There is no denying Emery’s quality, as he has gone on to prove time and time again since, but there is still a sense of frustration among Arsenal fans regarding the revisionist coverage of his spell at the club whenever the Spaniard goes on a good run.

Emery managing Arsenal in 2018 (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Tanswell: A god, a deity, a higher power… call him what you will, Villa supporters are enthralled by him. As one senior figure told The Athletic earlier this month, he has “the keys to the city”. Emery has lifted the club from relegation candidates when he took over in the autumn of 2022 to qualifying for European competition in three successive seasons and now, despite a terrible summer and heavy financial restrictions, they are in an excellent position to return to the Champions League (after playing in it in 2024-25).

What are your club’s main weaknesses/concerns heading into this game?

Sheldon: If you put Viktor Gyokeres’ goalscoring issues to one side, Arteta’s biggest headache will be the defensive injuries that have ripped through his squad. Gabriel making his return against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday was a much-needed boost, yet it was offset by Arteta losing Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber ahead of that game, resulting in Declan Rice playing at right-back.

Tanswell: Regrettably, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season during the victory over Chelsea, so will miss the trip to Arsenal. Cash has been among the league’s best right-backs, with his replacement likely to be either Andres Garcia — who has not played a minute this season — or central midfielder Lamare Bogarde.

Kamara is crucial in breaking up play and serving as Villa’s metronome in possession, so not having him in a game such as this will be keenly felt.

Which player is the biggest threat in the opposing team?

Sheldon: It has to be Morgan Rogers. The England international is absolutely flying and should be a key priority in terms of Arsenal’s plan for the game. Rogers, 23, has four goals in his last three matches and if Arteta’s team are to beat Villa, then stopping him is going to be paramount.

Tanswell: I think there is a case to say any left-winger Arsenal choose, because of Villa’s lack of right-back. Leandro Trossard was excellent when he came on at Villa Park earlier this month and is a genuine goal threat at the back post, which is an area to be mindful of for whoever is filling in for Cash at right-back.

What does your club need to do in January, if anything?

Sheldon: If Manchester City are to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, then there will undoubtedly be calls for Arsenal to strengthen their squad for the title run-in.

But it is important to note that Kai Havertz, who has been sidelined since August after requiring surgery on his knee, is set to return — according to Arteta — within a “matter of days”, which would be a notable and timely boost. That said, you would expect Arteta and Arsenal to be alert to any potential transfer next month.

Havertz training last week (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Tanswell: Financial conditions are still limiting what Villa can spend in January, but there are no doubts in the hierarchy’s mind that they will do their best to placate Emery and give him the tools he needs for a push in the second half of the season. A striker is high on the agenda.

Match predictions?

Sheldon: Villa were far superior when the two sides met on December 6, and will fancy their chances at the Emirates. Even though Arsenal should be slight favourites given they are the home side and haven’t lost a league game on their own patch since May 3, I’m going to sit on the fence and opt for a draw. 1-1

Tanswell: Villa have an opportunity to make it 12 successive wins in all competitions for the first time in their history. They couldn’t, could they? Win at the Emirates and I’ll start to think they may be in a title race. It will be tight. 1-1.