Arsenal host Aston Villa in the Premier League for Sunday’s late kick-off, hoping to move ahead of Manchester City and Liverpool and regain top spot in the table.
The Gunners are confident after their 3-0 win over Brighton last weekend, but know they cannot drop any points with the title race on such a razor’s edge. City beat Luton 5-1 on Saturday to move ahead of their rivals and Mikel Arteta’s men must now respond this afternoon.
However, today’s meeting will not be easy. Aston Villa has been in good form all season and was the only Premier League team to win the European competitions this week.
They will battle with Spurs for fourth place and a potential spot in the Champions League heading into the final stages of the season. Tottenham’s defeat to Newcastle yesterday means Villa would be three points clear if they win at the Emirates.
Follow all the action below and get the latest odds and tips here:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE
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Arsenal host Aston Villa in the Premier League with kick-off at 4.30pm
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With a win, the Gunners will regain first place
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Aston Villa hopes to return to fourth place
Arsenal FC – Aston Villa FC
Arsenal vs Aston Villa team news and line-ups
15:20 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re still about ten minutes away from today’s lineup from the Emirates.
How many changes will both managers make ahead of the second leg of their European ties in midweek? Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday and Aston Villa to Lille on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta on improved touchline behaviour
14:59 , Jamie Braidwood
Mikel Arteta was not on the sidelines when Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa earlier this season as the Gunners boss served a one-match ban for his behavior on the touchline.
Arteta was shown three yellow cards in early December, leading to a one-match suspension, but has only received one in the Premier League since.
“It was an experience. I deserved it. I had to go up because I got the yellow cards. I have experienced it. I didn’t like it, so hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
“The line came out and was very aggressive. Every time we were talking it was like ‘oh, you’re going to get a yellow card’. I think it’s a bit smoother now too. In both ways there is a little more understanding of what we expect from each other, that’s all.”
Why this unprecedented Premier League title race is needed more than ever
14:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Mikel Arteta, on this occasion at least, would not play mind games. When asked after Arsenal’s win over Luton Town whether he would watch the Manchester City and Liverpool matches, he nodded happily. There was no point in focusing only on his own team. Arteta said he simply enjoyed watching good football, but his interest clearly went much further than that.
As the gatecrashers of English football’s premier title rivalry, Arsenal have the most to learn. However, their presence at the top of the table also gives both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola something to learn. Neither major manager has ever been involved in a three-team title race over 38 combined seasons.
Both have admitted to feeling a new excitement about it, as well as a different tension. There’s a crackle, that sense of event in almost every match. You can feel that gripping tension before every game, and that’s now in three locker rooms. As the evenings grow longer and the nerves tense, there’s nothing better.
A three-way race between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and a classic title battle comes as the Premier League faces an off-field crisis, writes Miguel Delaney
Why this unprecedented Premier League title race is needed more than ever
Crystal Palace ahead of Liverpool!
14:27 , Jamie Braidwood
Wow – a twist in the title race? Crystal Palace have made a brilliant start at Anfield and Eberechi Eze has fired the Eagels ahead in front of the Kop, while Liverpool once again conceded the opening goal.
You can follow updates from Anfield here
Premier League title race: who has the best games: Liverpool, Man City or Arsenal?
14:01 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re on our way to Anfield! Can Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League and keep the pressure on Arsenal? Manchester City did what was necessary yesterday – and of the three teams in the title race, it is perhaps the Gunners who have had the toughest run of games…
You can view them all here
Mikel Arteta praises ‘incredible’ Unai Emery ahead of Arsenal return
13:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Mikel Arteta has praised Unai Emery as the former Gunners boss prepares to take his Champions League pursuit from Aston Villa back to the Emirates.
“Unai has had such a big impact at the club in terms of performance and consistency. It is incredible what he is doing in European competition and I am impressed,” he said.
“He’s incredible and he’s done it in so many different countries and he’s been incredibly successful.
“He lives close to my hometown and I have great admiration for him and I wish him the best after Sunday. What he is doing is really impressive.”
Unai Emery on ‘different’ Arsenal challenge
12:59 , Jamie Braidwood
Aston Villa won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier this season as Unai Emery’s side defeated the Gunners and Manchester City at Villa Park in four days.
However, Emery believes his team’s visit to the Emirates will be a very different challenge.
“It’s a different context, different circumstances and not really anything other than respecting it,” he said.
“It is different, the match we played at home in December to the match we will play on Sunday.
“There are a lot of the same players fighting, but different because we play in a different context. They fight for the Premier League and we fight against them to keep our fifth position and fight with Tottenham.”
Arteta ‘super excited’ as Arsenal embark on a crucial run
12:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go again. How can Arsenal respond to the challenge of playing after Manchester City and Liverpool this weekend?
Mikel Arteta has urged his side to give even more as he looks to win their first league title since 2004.
“We can be in the semi-finals of the Champions League and at the top of the Premier League, so every match will determine what our future looks like,” he said.
“They are super excited about what we are doing, the way the team is performing, winning games, they want more.
“We know the task and challenge ahead of us and how good we have to be to win, but we will try.”
Arsenal vs Aston Villa betting tips: Premier League odds, predictions and free bets
12:20 , Jamie Braidwood
With both Premier League title rivals playing for them this weekend, Arsenal could drop from first to third before kick-off against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event).
The Gunners reached the Premier League summit after their 3-0 win over Brighton last week, edging Liverpool on goal difference after the Reds’ draw with Manchester United.
Manchester City are just one point behind and will be the first to pile on the pressure on their rivals in their match against Luton on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s men played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich this week. Mistakes cost the Gunners as Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane fired Bayern ahead after Bukayo Saka’s opener before Leandro Trossard leveled the tie.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa betting tips: Premier League odds, predictions and free bets
Arsenal vs Aston Villa – early team news
12:18 , Jamie Braidwood
Predicted lineups
Arsenal XI: Raya: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Jesus
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Tielemans, Iroegbunam, Rogers; McGinn; Watkins
How can I watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa?
12:17 , Jamie Braidwood
When is it?
Arsenal vs Aston Villa starts on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 4:30 PM BST in the Emirates.
How can I view it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sport Main Event and starts at 4pm. Subscribers can stream via the SkyGo app and website.
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa – early team news
12:16 , Jamie Braidwood
Mikel Arteta said his side had some fitness issues after the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich but hoped Jurrien Timber would be the only member of his squad unavailable.
Villa will have to make do without the suspended Douglas Luiz, who picked up his tenth booking of the season and will miss the next two games. Clement Lenglet missed the match against Lille with a “minor” injury, joining Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey on the absent list.
Good afternoon
12:14 , Jamie Braidwood
Arsenal will hope to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League when they host Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners overtook Liverpool thanks to a 3-0 win over Brighton away from home, but have only the cushion of a superior goal difference, meaning they cannot afford to drop points. The Reds play Crystal Palace earlier today and could have an advantage over Mikel Arteta’s side, who will focus on their own game plan against a tough Aston Villa team.
Villa came into the match locked in a tight battle for fourth place with Tottenham. Spurs edged Unai Emery’s Midlands side after drawing with Brentford but are finding things more difficult towards the end of the season. If Villa can take points from the Gunners this afternoon, they will be well positioned to challenge for the Champions League in the remaining matches.
Here’s everything you need to know about the competition
Is Arsenal vs Aston Villa on TV? How to watch the Premier League match