Game Week 16 Predictions: Aston Villa to trouble Arsenal at Villa Park

Aston Villa and Arsenal face off in a high-stakes clash; who will come out on top

Arsenal and Aston Villa have big incentives to go for it at the Villa Park, who wants it more? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Villa Park

6:30pm

Aston Villa is one of the best teams in the Premier League; beating Manchester City the way they did is a good reason for anyone to take them seriously; they deserve the credit they’re getting.

Arsenal has won five consecutive games on the bounce; they have proven that they can dig deep and find the goal against low blocks and “haram ball” merchants; they sit two points clear at the top of the table; they are proving to be up to the task this season.

In Villa’s win over Manchester City, Unai Emery’s side restricted the champions to just two shots, the fewest of any side managed by Pep Guardiola in his entire career. They won most of the second balls and stifled City’s midfield endeavors.

Arsenal had to leave it late, deep into stoppage time, and, in fact, with the last kick of the game, to beat Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday. It was a game of insane drifts, with the Gunners going 3-2 down as early as the hour mark of the game.

Two players that are having a surge for either side are Leon Bailey for the hosts and Kai Havertz for the visitors. The latter has scored crucial goals to get Arsenal where they are: the winner at Brentford and the equaliser at Luton.

Bailey scored the sensational winner against Manchester City in midweek, and he will have a good case to start ahead of Moussa Diaby on Saturday. Emiliano Martinez and Emery will both be playing against their former clubs; they have points to prove.

Bukayo Saka is the youngest player to reach 200 games for the Gunners in the Premier League era, and he is indeed on the right track with either a goal or an assist in many of the games he has played this season. Gabriel Martinelli found the back of the net against the Hatters; he and Saka would be key against Villa.

Expect a cagey game. Both sides play a high line; forwards can feast with the pocket of spaces they will have to attack. It’s up to both managers to read the game and decide when to reach for the bench; it will be a game of the managers.

Watch out for Ollie Watkins; he loves scoring against Arsenal. John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara are the guys to try and cut off Arsenal’s supply; they could get booked in the process too. Douglas Luiz has been on the radar of the Gunners for a while; he has a big game on his hands against Declan Rice.

Verdict: Villa to win or draw