It’s game day, it’s Villa Park and it’s not crazy to think we can win this match based on beating Arsenal twice last season and our team getting stronger.
But it’s silly to get too optimistic.
Arsenal are a decent side and they are going to fancy they’ve got a chance of winning the League. Personally, I can’t see past Manchester City, but a lot of pundits think they have a chance and they did finish second, with a points tally that would have, on six or seven seasons since the Premier League began, won them the League.
So I’m just looking forward to the match and if we win, I’m just going to be very happy. But I’m not expecting, I’m just hoping.
And if we do, you know I’ll start to get carried away. I’ll maybe even start to believe. Not for this season, but one coming soon. And just writing like this makes me a little giddy. It’s coming.
Calm down Damian.
Right, this is a quick post but before I go, a quick update on the FPL. I’m sitting fourth but it looks like the person winning it is a Liverpool fan. Can I kick them out of the League? I’m investigating. Jeff and Noel, I’m coming for you today.
And I’ll be back this afternoon. Need to go eat.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
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Aston Villa did the double over Arsenal last season, accounting for 40% of the Gunners’ Premier League defeats in 2023-24.
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Villa have won five of the past nine Premier League meetings, keeping a clean sheet each time. It’s as many victories as they’d managed in their previous 46 attempts against Arsenal.
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However, Arsenal have won 14 Premier League games at Villa Park, their joint most at an away venue along with Selhurst Park.
Aston Villa
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Aston Villa are looking to win their opening two Premier League matches of a season for a fourth time, having done so in 1995-96, 1999-00 and 2020-21.
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They have won their opening home league fixture in each of the past four seasons – and began 2023-24 with eight straight top-flight victories at Villa Park.
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Ollie Watkins has gone six Premier League appearances without a goal since he scored in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on 14 April. He has five career league goals against the Gunners.
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Morgan Rogers has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances at Villa Park.
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Unai Emery has lost only one of his seven matches as a manager versus Arsenal in all competitions, Villa’s 4-2 Premier League home defeat in February 2023 when the Gunners scored twice in stoppage time.
Arsenal
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Arsenal have won eight of their nine Premier League away games so far in 2024, drawing the other, scoring 28 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. It is their longest unbeaten away streak since a run of 12 in 2016 under Arsene Wenger.
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The Gunners have won 17 of their 19 top-flight matches in 2024, with their only defeat coming at home to Aston Villa in April. They can equal the record of 18 league wins from the first 20 matches of a calendar year, set by Liverpool in 1982 and matched by Manchester City in both 2019 and 2021.
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Arsenal kept 11 Premier League away clean sheets last season, four more than any other club
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Kai Havertz has an unrivalled 17 Premier League goal involvements since mid-February, with 10 goals and seven assists in 15 appearances.
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The German is yet to score or set up a goal in seven games against Aston Villa, the most he has faced an opponent without doing so.
