User Review
( votes)Aston Villa v Arsenal – Match Preview
Bottom of the table Aston Villa welcome title chasing Arsenal to Villa Park on Sunday in the English Premier League. Both sides will look be looking for victory for different reasons on Sunday as they look to carry momentum into the all important festive period.
Aston Villa are currently in the middle of their longest win less streak in the club’s history, failing to win a match in their last 14, with new manager Remi Garde unable to reverse the slide. Currently bottom of the Premier League table with just six points, Villa are seven points from safety and it is hard to see them taking anything from Sunday’s match. Although they secured a point last weekend away at Southampton, Villa have only scored 13 goals so far this season, whilst conceding 28 goals. Villa look devoid of ideas at the moment and it will be interesting to see if Garde is given money to spend in January to try to fight for their Premier League survival or whether the purse strings will be shut as they look to next season in the Championship.
Arsenal go into Sunday’s match on the back of a fantastic midweek performance against Olympiakos in the Champions League to seal their place in the last 16 of the competition. Arsenal have not lost at Villa Park in their last 14 visits their and with the current form of the sides it would seem likely that record will continue. A 3-1 victory over Sunderland last week got Arsenal’s title campaign back on track after a disappointing defeat to West Brom and manager Arsene Wenger will be conveying to his players that this season looks to be their best chance of title success in recent years. If they are to look to lift the Premier League title, then matches such as Sunday’s are a must win for the London side, especially with the congested festive period matches fast approaching. Wenger will look to Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud to continue their recent fine form against a poor Villa side. Midfielder Ozil is in the form of his career at present, with 12 assists already this season and he has provided an assist in his last two matches against Villa. French striker Giroud is back amongst the goals, with four goals in his last two matches including a hat-trick against Olympiakos. Giroud also has an outstanding record against Villa, scoring in each of his last four appearances against them.
Arsenal are the 1.62 (8/13) favourites to win on Sunday, with Aston Villa 7 (6/1) and the draw at 4.33 (10/3). Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in the league in their last four matches and with the Villa defence also leaking goals a bet on the over 3.5 goals market looks tempting. The football tip for Sunday’s match between Aston Villa and Arsenal is over 3.5 goals in the match at 3.4 (12/5).
By: Scott McGlynn