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Recommended bets
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Arsenal are aiming to win five consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time since May 2015. Aston Villa could secure a third consecutive home victory over Arsenal for the first time in 43 years.
Both teams to score is 4/6.
Philippe Coutinho has scored four times in eight Premier League appearances against Arsenal. The Brazilian is 9/1 to break the deadlock and 3/1 to score anytime.
Bukayo Saka has scored four in his last four away games. He is also 9/1 to score first and 3/1 to score anytime.Â
Match preview
Can Arsenal get back on track as they continue their charge towards Champions League qualification?
Last weekend, goals from Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette saw the Gunners down Leicester City 2-0, thereby securing their fifth win in a row.
After a generally even first 45, the Merseysiders scored twice in eight minutes just after the interval, ultimately cruising to a 2-0 victory.
This is just the second time in 12 league games, dating back to 6 December, that Mikel Arteta’s side have tasted defeat, the other against Man City.
So, Arsenal kick off in fourth but with Manchester United just one point behind and both Tottenham and West Ham only two points further back.
Thus, it is vitally important that the Gunners keep winning, so will they leave Birmingham with all three points?
Aston Villa though are widely inconsistent, which probably explains why they’re sat ninth in the table.
Steven Gerrard’s side recently put together a run of three straight wins, notably hammering Southampton 4-0 and then Leeds 3-0 five days later.
This is the Villans’ longest Premier League winning run since the start of last season.
However, after three excellent displays, Villa were then very underwhelming last Sunday in a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham.
Jacob Ramsey bagging his sixth of the season in stoppage time but it was not enough to spark a comeback.
Nevertheless, Aston Villa are currently on course for their highest finish for 11 years, even if a European push will be beyond them.
Who will prevail at Villa Park?
Aston Villa team news
Emi MartÃnez, of course, made a name for himself at Arsenal before moving to Aston Villa in the summer of 2020.
He saved a penalty in the reverse fixture but saw the rebound scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal went on to win 3-0.
Calum Chambers made the same move less than two months ago, scoring his first Villa goal nine days ago at Elland Road, and what a goal too.
He could continue to partner Tyrone Mings at centre-back if Ezri Konsa is left out once again.
Left-back Lucas Digne hobbled off at West Ham last weekend so Ashley Young could deputise.
The front six of the XI will be unchanged with Philippe Coutinho supporting Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins in attack.
Watkins, a childhood Arsenal fan, scored home and away against the last season including, the only goal of the corresponding fixture 13 months ago.
Arsenal team news
First-choice right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu still hasn’t featured since 20 January against Liverpool due to injury.
So, Cédric Soares, who was called up by Portugal on Thursday, will continue to deputise.
Mikel Arteta named the same starting XI for both the games against Leicester and Liverpool but, given the tight turnaround, might have to rotate a bit.
Emile Smith Rowe is the most likely to come in; he’s scored ten goals this season, despite only starting two league games since 2 December.
The 21 year old is most likely to come in on the left-wing, rotated in for Gabriel Martinelli.
Apart from that, Arteta seems unconvinced by his other squad players, namely Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pépé and Eddie Nketiah.
So, it’ll be interesting to see how many changes to his preferred XI he actually makes.
Bukayo Saka is surely a guaranteed starter having been involved in five goals in his last four Premier League away appearances.
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