Aston Villa vs Arsenal: EPL Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups, and Fantasy XI

Aston Villa vs Arsenal is next as Arsenal will hope to get their 2022/23 Premier League title bid back on track when they visit old Gunners manager Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

Match Details:

• Location: Birmingham, England
• Stadium: Villa Park
• Date: Saturday 18 February
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 GMT / 07:30 ET / 04:30 PT/ 6PM IST
• Referee: Simon Hooper
• VAR: Stuart Atwell

Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Match Preview

The north London side headed into Wednesday's meeting with City at the top of the table and dominated possession but individual mistakes in defence helped Pep Guardiola's side record a 3-1 win and reach the Premier League's summit yet again, albeit on goal difference having played a game more.

Arsenal will face a Villa side who have also hit a rut in recent weeks, exiting the FA Cup to Stevenage in January before back to back defeats to Leicester and Man City more recently.

Team News:

Aston Villa

Diego Carlos is edging closer to a return following Achilles surgery earlier this season, but this game will come too soon for the defender. Backup goalkeeper Jed Steer is also absent.

There are further fitness doubts over Bertrand Traore, who could make the matchday squad having been recalled from his loan at Istanbul Basaksehir, and Tyrone Mings, who missed Villa's 3-1 defeat to Man City last week.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta was dealt a substantial blow on Wednesday with Thomas Partey sidelined due to injury. If the Ghanaian isn't fit again, January signing Jorginho will deputise once more in central midfield.

Takehiro Tomiyasu was poor against City and will likely pay for that performance with his starting spot with Ben White set to come in at right back. Gabriel Jesus, Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe are all out of action

Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Head to Head:

Arsenal have a good historical record against Aston Villa and have won 86 out of the 200 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Aston Villa's 69 victories.

After a run of three consecutive victories against Arsenal in the Premier League between 2020 and 2021, Aston Villa have lost their last three games against the Gunners in the competition.

Arsenal have won 13 games away from home against Aston Villa in the Premier League - they have a better record in this regard only against West Ham United.

Key Stats

• Aston Villa have conceded the most (nine) goals in the opening 15 minutes this season, while Arsenal have conceded the fewest (none).
• Ollie Watkins has scored three Premier League goals against Arsenal – the only team he has netted more often against is Liverpool.
• Bukayo Saka has scored or assisted 12 goals in his last 14 Premier League starts against the teams from the Big Six (nine goals and three assists)
• Arsenal have won their last three matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.
• Arsenal are winless in their last four games across all competitions.

Predicted Line-ups:

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-4-2): Martinez; Young, Chambers, Konsa, Digne; Ramsey, Kamara, Luiz, Buendia; Watkins, Bailey.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinell.

AVL vs ARS: Fantasy XI:

Martinez; White, Saliba, , Konsa, Digne; Odegaard, Jorginho,Buendia; Bailey, Martinell, Saka.