Aston Villa vs Arsenal Predictions

• Villa beat Arsenal twice last season.
• Both teams have scored in Villa’s last six competitive home games.
• The Gunners have scored in seven successive fixtures.

Arsenal seeking Villa revenge

Arsenal head to Aston Villa in the late Premier League kick off on Saturday in what looks the standout game in the second round of fixtures.

Unai Emery masterminded two Villa wins over his former side last season, winning 1-0 at this ground in December before guiding his team to a 2-0 win at the Emirates in April in a result that proved a hammer blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.

Arsenal began this season’s title challenge with a 2-0 win over Wolves in North London and they do look the more likely victors here, but the results last season prove it is by no means a given so I’m going to avoid a result for the main bet.

Go for goals at Villa Park

Over 2.5 goals looks a decent option here despite the fact both games went under last season. Arsenal will see this as a key game as they dropped six points against Villa last term and finished up just two behind Man City, while Emery and Villa will clearly feel they can get something out of this fixture as well.

Both teams look capable of scoring as Arsenal have scored in seven straight games and both teams have scored in Villa’s last six at home, while both of these sides scored twice in their respective season openers.

Backing both teams to score is one possibility but over 2.5 goals is a slightly bigger price, and both of these teams can combine for at least three goals.

Gunners can make a statement

Arsenal didn’t really have to get out of first gear against Wolves last weekend as Kai Havertz scored midway through the first half to send them on their way to victory. Villa had to dig a bit deeper at West Ham, hitting the winner with just over 10 minutes to go, and the Gunners should have enough about them to edge this game.

Mikel Arteta’s troops are on a seven-game winning run in the league, going back to the defeat to their hosts in April, and they can make it eight in a row here so a 2-1 win for Arsenal looks a reasonable correct score play.

Bukayo Saka and Havertz both scored and assisted last weekend and either could make it two goals in two games on Saturday. Havertz is a slightly bigger price, so I’m going to side with the German for an anytime scorer bet.

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