Aston Villa vs Arsenal Prediction

Posted Saturday, December 06, 2025 by scores24

🔊 What can we expect from the marquee match of the Premier League's 15th round between Aston Villa and Arsenal? Both teams are in the top three, separated by just six points. This comes despite Villa's shaky start to the season, where they failed to secure a win in their first five matches. That early crisis is now a distant memory, as Unai Emery's side are on a six-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Gunners boast an even longer run, remaining unbeaten in their last 18 games. Which streak is more likely to continue? We'll find out on Saturday at Villa Park. Let's evaluate both teams' chances of success with our editorial prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 The balance of power in the last 10 matches between the teams is incredibly close. Arsenal hold a slight edge with one more win: five to four. Additionally, there was only one draw during this stretch, which occurred at the start of 2025. Notably, in 7 out of these 10 games, the total goals did not exceed 3.5.

Aston Villa Team Overview

Birmingham have broken into the Premier League's top three for the first time this season. It's an incredible achievement for a club that failed to secure a win in their first five matches of the campaign. Recently, the "Lions" have been on an impeccable run, securing four consecutive victories without dropping any points. Additionally, Unai Emery's side shares third place with Sunderland for defensive reliability, conceding an average of just one goal per match.

Aston Villa's victory over Brighton in the 14th round of the Premier League (4-3) was uncharacteristic for a team known for their organized defense. The match at the Amex Stadium began with two goals from the hosts. However, before halftime, thanks to Ollie Watkins' efforts, the "Villans" leveled the score. The Englishman found the net for only the second time this season but managed a brace, ending his 11-match goal drought for the club. In the second half, it was the visitors who had to chase the game, as they surged ahead by two goals with 12 minutes remaining. Yet, the "Seagulls" could only claw back one goal.

Arsenal Team Overview

The Gunners are leading the pack in all competitions they're participating in this season. In the Champions League, they hold a three-point lead over PSG in second place, and in the Premier League, they are five points clear of Manchester City. Their advantage was even greater, but the red-and-whites drew twice in their last four matches.

Heading into the upcoming round, Mikel Arteta's side is buoyed by a convincing victory over Brentford at the Emirates (2-0). Although the hosts maintained a slender lead until the 90th minute, their dominance on the pitch was overwhelming. The Bees managed only six shots on David Raya's goal with a combined xG of just 0.35. Mikel Merino had an outstanding game, contributing a goal and an assist. However, the standout star of the evening was Ben White. The defender made his first start of the season, delivered an assist, and was named man of the match.

Latest news

Aston Villa

🎙 Aston Villa's head coach singled out Ollie Watkins for praise after his brace against Brighton. "Ollie instills confidence in me when he plays. When he's not scoring, his confidence dips, but the goals eventually come. Hopefully, we can maintain balance and improve his stats. Watkins worked as hard as he does in every match, but today he found the net. We played the same way we have all season. We started poorly in August, and today wasn't the best start either. The first goal shouldn't have come from a corner. We're gaining experience, and today was another learning match," said Unai Emery.

❌ Ross Barkley's knee issues have been confirmed. He required a substitution in the 13th round of the Premier League and will not return to the field this year. Similarly, Tyrone Mings has been sidelined for a month due to a hamstring injury.

Arsenal

🎙 Arsenal's head coach commented on their victory over Brentford in the 14th round of the Premier League. "It's always uncomfortable because just one accurate shot from Brentford could have led to chaos and desperation. A 1-0 scoreline is never enough, but I believe we dominated the game and created the most dangerous chances. Overall, I'm very pleased. After the week we've had, playing three days later without full recovery and still winning... I'm incredibly proud of the players," said Mikel Arteta.

❌ Arsenal's injury list has grown significantly recently. In just three matches, four players have been sidelined: Leandro Trossard, William Saliba, and both Cristian Mosquera and Declan Rice couldn't finish the match against Brentford. In addition to these fresh setbacks, it's worth noting that Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have been sidelined since the start of the season.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The main referee for the match is Peter Bankes. Over his last 10 Premier League matches, he averages 4.2 yellow cards per game. The head-to-head clashes between these teams have been fiercely contested, with the total number of cautions exceeding 3.5 in 7 of their last 8 encounters. The intensity is expected to remain high in this upcoming game. Both teams are in the top three of the Premier League standings. With just six points separating them, the Villans are eager to close the gap to a single victory against the Gunners. Home advantage should provide the Birmingham side with an extra boost. Our prediction: total yellow cards over 3.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Arsenal's success this season has largely relied on their solid defense. Their nearest Premier League rival, Crystal Palace, has conceded four more goals, while Inter has let in two more in the Champions League. However, recently, the Gunners have slightly lowered their defensive standards, partly due to consecutive injuries to two defenders. In 4 out of their last 5 games, the Londoners have failed to keep a clean sheet. We expect Aston Villa to score, particularly on their home turf in Birmingham.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa may not be a dominating force, but they certainly are a pressing machine. Their counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, combined with strong wing play, often results in set pieces near the opponent's goal. In 7 of their last 8 matches, the Birmingham side has earned at least four corners. This season, new stars like Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, and Emiliano Buendia are emerging for the Lions. Not to mention John McGinn and Jadon Sancho are also part of their roster, all of whom are natural or situational wing players. With this lineup, Aston Villa's total corners should exceed 3.5.

Editor’s Prediction

Bookmakers have unsurprisingly made Arsenal the clear favorites, with odds more than twice as favorable for them. However, we believe this gap is overstated. Firstly, the Gunners have failed to secure a win in their last two away Premier League matches. Secondly, the head-to-head history between these future opponents suggests a more balanced matchup, with the London club having only one more victory overall. Additionally, Arsenal have been hit harder by injuries, making Aston Villa's lineup appear more optimal to us. Given these factors, a fair outcome would be a high-scoring draw, likely ending 1-1. We expect the bet on both teams to score (yes) to come through.