Arsenal vs Aston Villa predictions: Premier League tips and odds

Our betting expert has three Arsenal vs Aston Villa tips for Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates (kick-off, 5:30pm). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.

By Jacob Potter.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa betting tips

• Under 2.5 Goals @ Evens with Sky Bet
• Kai Havertz 2+ first-half shots on target @ 9/2 with Sky Bet
• Bet builder – Myles Lewis-Skelly to be carded, Ollie Watkins 1+ shots on target & Arsenal 6+ corners @ 6/1 with Sky Bet

Emery will make life tough for Gunners

Many people saw last season’s 2-0 win for Aston Villa at the Emirates as the killer blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes. Unai Emery was determined to prove the Gunners’ hierarchy wrong for moving him on from the manager’s hot seat in north London.

The Spaniard is always capable of a tactical masterclass and seems intent on trying to cause problems for Arsenal, having done the double over his former club last term. The Gunners did turn the tables in a 2-0 win at Villa Park back in August, but you can bet the visitors will be well drilled and make life difficult again for Mikel Arteta’s men.

It’s also worth noting that those last three meetings between the sides have seen under 2.5 goals and they haven’t been potent in attack in recent weeks.
The Gunners have scored just four goals in their last four matches in all competitions, while Villa have found the net just twice in their last five Premier League away games.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa tip 1: Under 2.5 Goals @ Evens with Sky Bet

Arteta still relying on Havertz

With Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka sidelined by injury, Arteta has had to try and shuffle his pack in recent weeks to find goalscoring solutions. Youngster Ethan Nwaneri was used as a short-term solution before he suffered a muscle problem and now it seems the Gunners will have to hope Kai Havertz can deliver.

The Germany international has got seven league goals to his name this term, but all of those strikes have come against teams currently in the bottom half of the table. With no other options through the middle, Havertz seems certain to start again on Saturday and Arsenal will supply him with more opportunities to find the net.

Eight of Arsenal’s last 12 goals – including both in the North London derby win – have been scored in the first half of matches and they will look to start quickly against Villa.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa tip 2: Kai Havertz 2+ first-half shots on target @ 9/2 with Sky Bet

Set-pieces could be key again

Much has been made of the two club’s set-piece coaches and the success they have enjoyed over the last couple of seasons. Both teams are inside the Premier League’s top-four team standings for corners won this term, with Villa on 137 and Arsenal 135 to date. Those figures show they are both averaging over six corners per game.

One of the shining stars for the Gunners in recent months has been young defender Myles Lewis-Skelly, who looks to have become first-choice left-back. The teenager has only started four league games and has already collected two cautions and will have to be wary of Villa’s attacking threat down the flanks.

Ollie Watkins’ winner at Everton on Wednesday was the striker’s first goal since September’s draw at Ipswich. The England international scored twice in the last four games between Arsenal and Villa, including the second goal in this fixture last season.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa tip 3: Bet builder – Myles Lewis-Skelly to be carded, Ollie Watkins 1+ shots on target & Arsenal 6+ corners @ 6/1 with Sky Bet