Arsenal FC vs Aston Villa FC, Premier League 2020-2021, Today Match Prediction

Arsenal FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

A couple of weeks can make the world of difference in the Premier League this season, with so many teams bunched so closely together.

Riding high off the back of winning their first five fixtures, back to back defeats have sent Aston Villa tumbling from 2nd in the league down to 8th, where they sit level on points with their opponents Arsenal.

It appears their bubble has somewhat burst, their early season confidence failing and teams working out how best to play against them.

Arsenal have been up and down this season, and while their win against Manchester United was impressive last weekend, it should not fool anyone that Arsenal are now the finished article. 

They have a way to go in order to consistently break into the top four and challenge for silverware, though they will enter this match as favourites due to the quality throughout their team.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Arsenal FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): WLWWW

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Europa League form has boosted their confidence

     Win over Man United showed defensive improvement

Reasons to be fearful:

     Three defeats in five league matches show much improvement is still needed

     Aston Villa are a team who can spring a surprise

Arsenal have enjoyed a positive week.

After beating Manchester United in a morale-boosting victory, they further showed their quality in beating Molde in the Europa League.

Despite this, they will start this fixture potentially down in the lower half of the table, if teams below them win their fixtures. This is evidence of a mixed start to the season, winning important matches but also finding it tough in others.

Aubameyang, though scoring the winner last weekend, previously went five matches without scoring, and they seem to suffer from a lack of creativity in the final third. 

They are certainly looking more solid at the back, conceding just five goals from their last eight matches. They are also boosted by the return of David Luiz from injury.

The Gunners are favourites here.

Star Man – Thomas Partey 

Was absolutely terrific against United last weekend, breaking up the play while helping to kickstart attacks.

Aston Villa FC Preview

Form Guide (all comps): LWWLL

Reasons to be cheerful

     Are scoring plenty despite losing last two

     Their quick counter-attack style should work well against Arsenal

Reasons to be fearful 

     Bertrand Traore likely to miss out through injury

     Conceded seven goals in last two matches

Manager Dean Smith will be somewhat concerned at how his side’s form has slipped so quickly since their opening run of wins.

To go from 2nd to 8th so quickly is a mark of how tight teams are at the top, but also shows how easily it is to lose ground if you’re not at your best.

If they fail to arrest their slip in form, they could find themselves further down the table before long. 

This fixture may not be as one sided an affair as it would in previous seasons. Villa are a much better side going forward these days, the signing of Watkins up front adding to the existing quality of Grealish.

Conceding seven goals in their last two games is worrying, though Arsenal are not as creative going forward as in previous seasons. 

If Villa can keep things tight at the back, they could have some joy.

Star Man – Jack Grealish

Came close to inspiring a comeback against Southampton with a goal and an assist.