- 1 Aston Villa vs Arsenal: the champions head to Villa Park with six goals scored and none conceded
- 2 Aston Villa: a squad stripped down and a false start
- 3 Arsenal: four opening away games, four wins, four clean sheets
- 4 Premier League prediction Aston Villa vs Arsenal
- 5 Before anything else, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Aston Villa vs Arsenal: the champions head to Villa Park with six goals scored and none conceded 
Arsenal have wrapped up their first two competitive games of the 2026-2027 season without conceding, scoring six at the other end. The English champions go to Villa Park on Monday, 31 August, with kick-off at 21:00 French time.
Aston Villa come into it in almost the opposite shape. Unai Emery’s side were beaten 4-0 at the Amex Stadium on the opening day, a result that dumped them straight down to 20th.
This is the final game of the second round of Premier League fixtures. The two clubs meet again after a transfer window that stripped Villa Park’s dressing room of several key men, including Ezri Konsa, who has now switched to the other side for tonight.
Mikel Arteta’s numbers point to a controlled night: his team have won their last four opening away games in the Premier League, and kept a clean sheet every time. Manchester United, Crystal Palace twice and Aston Villa themselves have all been on the wrong end of it.
But the opposite stat is there too, and it matters. Villa have beaten the reigning champions in each of their last three home meetings of this kind, Liverpool last season, Manchester City in 2023-2024 and again in 2024-2025.
Last season, a late Emiliano Buendia goal had already sent Villa Park into meltdown in this fixture. Arsenal hit back a few weeks later with a 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
That is the story of this match in a nutshell: a side that usually knocks off champions at home, against an Arsenal team that has not blinked at the back yet. The state of the two squads may end up deciding it.
Aston Villa: a squad stripped down and a false start 
Four goals conceded in 31 minutes at Brighton: that was Villa’s opening act of the season. The club sit in the relegation zone before they’ve even played at home.
The evening summed up their current problems, from Victor Lindelof’s own goal to Joao Gomes being sent off on his debut. The midfielder is serving a three-match ban for violent conduct and will miss the visit of Arsenal.
The summer has cost Unai Emery dear. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all left, and the manager confirmed on Friday that Ollie Watkins has also gone to Saudi Arabia.
The board responded by getting two deals over the line in quick succession. Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson, signed from Chelsea in the 2026 summer window, were registered in time to be available on Monday.
The injury list makes things even messier. Amadou Onana is out long term with a knee problem, while Johan Manzambi and Brian Madjo are not expected back in competitive action before September.
Villa’s one real source of hope is still Villa Park’s habit of knocking off champions, which has happened three times since 2023. But the team will need to stand up better than they did at Brighton, and that means looking a lot tougher at the back.
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Arsenal: four opening away games, four wins, four clean sheets 
Arsenal opened their Premier League season with a 3-0 win over Coventry City, with all three goals coming in open play. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard shared the scoring at the Emirates Stadium.
Across all competitive matches, their record stands at two wins, one trophy, six goals scored and none conceded. The 3-0 win over Manchester City completes the picture.
It sets up a clear marker for Monday night: in their 140-year history, the club have never won five straight opening away league games. That chance is there at Villa Park.
Arteta will take charge of his 250th Premier League match, two weeks after becoming the fifth-fastest manager to reach 150 wins in the competition. The continuity in his starting XI explains a lot of those numbers.
Ezri Konsa, signed from Aston Villa for 55 million pounds a week ago, could get his first minutes against his old club. A place on the bench looks the most likely outcome, with Arteta expected to stick with his usual back line.
There are still a few issues in the group. Jurrien Timber is out with a groin problem and William Saliba is missing with a back injury, Bruno Guimaraes remains a doubt, and Gabriel Martinelli plus Gabriel Jesus could be left out amid transfer talk.
Expected Aston Villa lineup: Suzuki ; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Ruggeri ; Bogarde, Kamara ; Buendia, Barkley, McGinn ; Jackson
Expected Arsenal lineup: Raya ; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori ; Rice, Lewis-Skelly ; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis ; Havertz
Premier League prediction Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Our prediction: Arsenal win
Arsenal have won their last four opening league away games without conceding a goal, including one at Villa Park. That run is not about kind fixtures, but about a back line that barely changes.
Villa, meanwhile, are missing Watkins and Onana, with Joao Gomes suspended, after shipping four goals in half an hour at Brighton. Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka have only just arrived and have had no time to build any understanding with their new team-mates.
The balance of power is too one-sided to back Villa Park tradition against the champions. Arsenal leave the Midlands with all three points.
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