Game Week 22 Predictions: Arsenal must beat Aston Villa

Arsenal faces Aston Villa in a crucial home clash. With injuries and title hopes on the line, the Gunners must secure victory.

Arsenal's season is at a point where they must be near perfect if they want to be champions, this game is crucial to their title hopes. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Arsenal vs. Aston Villa

Emirates Stadium

6:30 pm

This is the fourth straight game the Gunners are playing at home this year, with the first two of the previous three ending miserably for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Carabao and FA Cups, respectively.

Arsenal did manage to beat Tottenham 2-1 on Wednesday, a result that has thrown them back into the title race after Liverpool failed to beat Nottingham Forest at the Community Stadium on Tuesday; it’s making for an intriguing title race for followers to enjoy.

Despite recent struggles, Aston Villa has won their last three games across all competitions. Can Unai Emery secure four consecutive victories against the team that dismissed him in 2019? He wouldn’t mind hurting them again after ultimately ending their title charge last season.

The Gunners are facing a bitter rivalry, and Mikel Arteta needs to inspire his team to approach the game with unity. Arsenal lost this fixture 2-0 last season, a result they couldn’t recover from despite winning their remaining matches.

Aston Villa could finish the day tied with fourth-placed Newcastle; they possess the necessary skills to challenge Arteta's Arsenal and secure the three points. The prospect of returning to the Champions League is quite huge; Villa will be up for it.

Arsenal knows only a win will keep them in the title race. Given that Liverpool is playing earlier in the day, the Gunners may start the game seven points behind, leaving them with no margin for error. To be champions, they must win games like this.

William Saliba was not seen in training on Friday, which means the Frenchman could be struggling with injury, as seen in the latter stages of the game against Tottenham. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both back in training, but this game comes too soon for them.

Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, and Gabriel Jesus are all out long-term, prompting fans to wonder if the club will do business in the current window. Arsenal must sign an attacker to remain competitive in the absence of the injured trio; anything short of that is irresponsible from the club hierarchy.

For Villa, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, and Pau Torres are all unavailable for this game, while Diego Carlos is a big doubt; Tyron Mings and Ezri Konsa will have to be at their best to stop Arsenal, but Emiliano Martinez has it all to do in goal as usual.

Verdict: Arsenal must win.