please log in to view this image Venue: Villa Park Date: Saturday 6th December 2025 KO time: 12:30 GMT Overall Record Wins: 88 Losses: 71 Draws: 46 Last six meetings Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
No idea why we're playing on Saturday midday after playing on Wednesday night, but whatever. Can't do anything about that now. I was worried about this game beforehand anyway, but now even moreso now with Rice's injury. We have no-one in the team who has his athleticism, stamina, running power or ability to eat up space. If he isn't fit, what do we do? Does Merino drop into midfield? Does Norgaard come in? Mosquera's injury is also a major worry as we have 3 of our 4 CBs out with injury as it stands. Some big decisions to be made for this game. If I'm going to be brutally honest, I think we will drop points here. But I'm hoping we show enough to get a draw at least.
I fear we may well lose this game. Villa are playing far better than we are. I would happily take a draw. If Rice is out, then I think we need to bring in Norgaard and play 2 defensive midfielders. With Mosquera likely out too, we’re looking at Timber continuing at CB. Definitely should not bring in MLS. Up front , start Gyokeres. He needs to start delivering in big games.
Apparently Rice is fine and told Sky Sports that he should be available for the Villa game. There's a good chance Saliba could be ready too. If we have Saliba and Rice fit for this one, I am much more confident. Let's see. However, and I know people may not agree, but for me this is more of a 'must not lose' rather than a 'must win'. If Villa win, they are 3 points behind us and we simply cannot allow that. A draw keeps them at bay and we maintain the gap. A win for Arsenal would be huge. But it's going to be extremely tricky. If we avoid defeat, we are still in a good position and our fixture list begins to look a bit kinder. City will be a threat and they may close the gap on us, but I'm still banking on them losing more of their away games in the second half of the season.
Yeah we need Rice back. Having Saliba back will be a huge plus as well. If we can bring our performance levels back up to where they were when we beat Bayern and Spurs we will win this for sure. But we need to play better than we did against Chelsea/Brentford.
This game is absolutely MADE for Martinelli to come off the bench in the last 25 minutes and burn them on the counter, Fuxakes, don't you ****ing start him Arteta.
Glad Rice is OK. Not confident with Eze on the left or Zubimendi as the 6 against Villa who attack well through the midfield. Good to see Trossard back. Every game is big now, but playing fort and having the opportunity to go 8 pts clear is something we really need to take advantage of and pile the pressure on the chasers. Not at all confident of even a point, though. please log in to view this image
Shame about Saliba not being fit for this. Frustrating. That defence we've put out is decent enough, but it's far more susceptible to long balls over the top and runs in behind. We have a stacked bench attack wise, though. Glad to see Trossard is back, but that defence worries me a lot. And we only have 16-year old Marli Salmon as a natural CB on the bench.
White can also move in to CB - he's very good in that position. So can Califiori - with MLS coming in (though I would want to avoid MLS at FB in this game especially). Hopefully no more CB injuries!
Odegaard has to do better. Generally started as expected. Lack of execution and concentration by us. awful defending there. Villa should score. We look nervous and afraid.
1-0 Villa It was coming They look far more confident and are executing brilliantly going forward We look unconvincing Basically bottling it again here Zubimendi, Eze and Merino have been utterly ****.
HT 1-0 Villa are decisive in attack We look hopeful in attack. We’ve had some good moments but overall simply showing no belief or fight. Odegaard and Zubimendi have offered nothing Merino keeps giving it away Eze has been trash on the left Saka, White, Rice and Calafiori are the only players really at it, But even they are not executing when it matters. Needs a big change and massive performance in the second half. I just don’t think this team has it in them.
HT. 1-0. I don't think we've been horrible, and I think we've looked OK going forward, but as expected, that ball over the top with Timber's lack of height has been an area Villa have exploited. We've also looked very open when they go through the middle, we need to be plugging these gaps so much better. Villa haven't created much aside from that Watkin's shot, but we completely switched off for Cash's goal and we were dropping way too deep when we didn't need to. It was a decent response after going behind, but Merino's lack of mobility and inability to take the ball on the half turn has affected us. Need a big response in the second half. Merino has to come off. He doesn't occupy CBs or retain the ball well enough.
Playing a game against Villa who deploy a mid block with no runners in behind didn't seem sensible from the off. Our attackers all want ball to feet and that won't stretch them. We need to bring players on who will stretch them and create more space.
Our midfield is not brave enough to spot the runs in behind. There have been several runs made by Saka and White in behind and they were ignored for the safe pass. we play safe in midfield. Villa try things and execute well. There midfield is vastly superior to ours. Rice would get in there team but Odegaard and Zubimendi wouldn’t get a sniff of playing time. Nothing I am seeing is changing my mind that no team with Odegaard and Zubimendi in it is winning a title. Eze should be moved to 10. Odegaard off Norgaard should come in for Zubimendi to provide some more bite and strength in the 6
