Arsenal will look to return to winning ways when they host Aston Villa in an intriguing mid-table clash on Friday evening.
The Gunners are without a win since their north London derby triumph last month after successive draws in the Premier League.
But, Arsenal haven’t lost since August with Alexandre Lacazette striking a late equaliser against Crystal Palace to preserve their recent record on Monday night.
Villa meanwhile are looking to bounce back after throwing a two goal lead away on route to a 3-2 defeat to Wolves in the west Midlands derby on Sunday.
Dean Smith’s side do boast excellent form against Arsenal though having won the last three successive meetings between the two sides.
The Gunners will host Villa at the Emirates on Friday, October 22.
The Premier League clash will kick off at 8pm.
Villa cruised to a 3-0 win over Arsenal during this fixture last November with Ollie Watkins bagging a second-half double.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Team news
The home side remain without Granit Xhaka for Friday’s clash.
The midfielder suffered ligament damage in his right knee during last month’s win over Tottenham and will be missing until the new year.
Saka meanwhile is a doubt after he was booted in the back of his leg in a reckless challenge from James McArthur in the 2-2 draw on Monday.
The England international was forced off with an injury during the break and Arsenal are yet to give an update on the teenager’s fitness.
Aston Villa meanwhile are close to welcoming back £30million summer signing Leon Bailey after he missed the last three games due to injury.
Matty Cash has handed the Claret and Blues a boost by recovering from a dead leg he suffered while Bertrand Traore is also in line for a return.
Trezeguet is Villa’s long-term absentee as he continues his rehab from a cruciate ligament injury he sustained last season.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Match facts
- Arsenal – who faced Aston Villa in the first ever competitive game at the Emirates Stadium – have lost four of their last 10 home league games against the Villans (W6). The Gunners have only lost more league games at their new ground against Man City (5) and Chelsea (6).
- Aston Villa have won their last three Premier League meetings with Arsenal, as many as they had in their previous 36 against them in the competition (W3 D9 L24). They last won four consecutive league games against the Gunners in September 1962.
- Each of the last nine Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates has seen at least three goals scored. The only specific fixture to see a longer such run in the competition is Manchester City at home to Newcastle – 11 times between 2007 and 2020.
- Arsenal had won seven of their nine Premier League games on a Friday before the beginning of last season (D2). Since then, however, the Gunners have lost each of their last two such fixtures at home to Everton (0-1) and away to Brentford (0-2) on the opening day this season.
- Of the 12 Premier League sides to have featured at least 10 times in the Premier League on a Friday, only Leicester (1/12) and Spurs (2/11) have a lower win % in such fixtures than Aston Villa (2/10), beating Spurs 4-1 in December 1997 and Everton 2-0 in August 2019.
- Aston Villa have lost five of their last eight away league games (W3), as many as they had in their previous 17 on the road (W7 D5 L5). Meanwhile, the Villans have never won a Premier League away game on a Friday before (D2 L2).
- Ollie Watkins scored three of Aston Villa’s four goals against Arsenal in the Premier League last season, with these goals coming from just five shots on target for the striker.
- Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has won 75% of his Premier League meetings with Arsenal (3/4) – of all managers to have faced the Gunners at least four times in the competition, only Pep Guardiola has a better win rate against them (91%).
- Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of his last three Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium. In total, he’s netted 42 Premier League goals at the Emirates, with only Robin van Persie netting more at the ground in the competition (46).
- In his 23-minute appearance against Crystal Palace last time out, Alexandre Lacazette had more shots on target (2) and created more chances (2) than any other Arsenal player in the match. The Frenchman is averaging a goal or assist every 46 minutes in all competitions this season (3 goals, 1 assist, 185 minutes played).
