Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Statistical Preview, Form Guide, Injury News & Head-To-Head

Arsenal head into the weekend top of the Premier League table but won’t be there at kick off if Manchester City avoid defeat at Newcastle or Liverpool win at Stoke on Sunday.

Monday night football comes from Villa Park this weekend as Arsenal appear on the show for the first time this season, looking to avenge their opening day defeat when Aston Villa turned up at the Emirates and won 3-1.

There were mixed results for these two sides in last weekend’s FA Cup ties – Aston Villa were beaten at home by League 1 struggler’s Sheffield United, whilst Arsenal beat North London rivals Tottenham 2-0. Both sides experienced victories last time out in the Premier League, on New Year’s Day.

Form

Aston Villa WDLLL

Aston Villa are unbeaten in two in the Premier League after coming off of a four-game losing sequence. Paul Lambert’s side were 1-0 winners at bottom-of-the-league Sunderland last time out after being held 1-1 at home to Swansea City to end 2013.

Christian Benteke has now gone 11 Premier League matches without a goal since his consolation at Newcastle back in mid-September. Gabby Agbonlahor has scored in each of his last two league outings to take his tally up to 3 goals this season but is a slight doubt for this match. The Villians ended a six game sequence without a clean sheet at the Stadium of Light.

Libor Kozák is done for the season with a broken leg, Jores Okore and Charles N’Zogbia remain out, whilst Ron Vlaar and Nathan Baker are slight doubts in defence for Paul Lambert’s side.

Arsenal WWWDL

Two late strikes at home to Cardiff City on New Year’s Day made it three wins on the bounce for Arsène Wenger’s side. Beating Tottenham in the FA Cup may have been good but it came with a heavy price as Theo Walcott picked up an injury that keeps him out for the season.

Walcott had been the in-form player for the Gunners, scoring five in his last six games. Olivier Giroud has just 1 goal in his last six Premier League appearances, but Lukas Podolski returned over the Christmas period and netted during his side’s 3-1 victory at West Ham on Boxing Day. The defence has allowed just 1 goal in their last four league games, shutting out Chelsea, Newcastle and Cardiff.

Theo Walcott is joined by Nicklas Bendtner on the injury list, whilst Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby and Yaya Sanogo all remain sidelined. Mesut Özil is in line for a return this weekend, Kieran Gibbs has a slight chance of featuring while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be among the substitutes.

Head-to-head

Aston Villa caught Arsenal out on the counter attack on the opening day of the season. With help of two penalties and a Laurent Koscielny red card, Aston Villa were 3-1 winners at the Emirates.

This fixture last season ended in a 0-0 draw back in November 2012. Arsenal won the fixture 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in February with a brace from Santi Cazorla either side of Andreas Weimann’s equaliser.

Premier League stats

Absentees

Aston Villa
Libor Kozák (injury)
Charles N’Zogbia (injury)
Jores Okore (injury)

Arsenal
Abou Diaby (injury)
Kieran Gibbs (doubt)
Aaron Ramsey (injury)
Yaya Sanogo (injury)
Theo Walcott (injury)

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