Villa came out on top when the sides last met in Birmingham less than a month ago, but this time it’s Arsenal who remain in pole position at the summit, while their visitors arrive in the middle of a remarkable run of form.
After briefly being knocked off the top by Manchester City, Arsenal wasted no time reclaiming first place on Saturday with a hard-fought 2–1 home win over Brighton. Martin Ødegaard fired the Gunners ahead before another opposition own goal helped tip the balance. Brighton made things uncomfortable late on, but Mikel Arteta’s side showed resilience to see the game out.
That result marked Arsenal’s fifth straight league win since their late defeat at Villa Park, and their home form has been just as impressive. They’ve won nine of their last ten Premier League matches at the Emirates, including each of the last six, their best home streak since 2022.
Two points clear of their closest rivals and three ahead of Villa, Arsenal know another win would see them end 2025 top of the table.
Still, Villa have had the upper hand in this fixture recently. Arsenal have lost three of the last five meetings between the sides, while Villa have taken four points from their last two visits to North London, a 2–0 win in April 2024 followed by a 2–2 draw earlier this year. By contrast, Villa’s overall record in year-ending league games is poor, with just two wins from their last 13.
That draw required a spirited second-half fightback, something Unai Emery’s side have made a habit of. Villa have become experts at rescuing games, and their comeback ability has been a defining feature of their season.
Most recently, Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score twice in a 2–1 win at Chelsea, after Emery rang the changes at half-time. That victory meant Villa have now recovered 18 points from losing positions, more than any other team in the league.
They are also in the middle of a historic run. Eight straight Premier League wins is their best streak since 1910, while an 11-game winning run across all competitions matches club records set over a century ago.
Considering Villa were 18th and winless after five matches, the turnaround has been extraordinary. Since then, no team has won more games or collected more points in the Premier League.
Emery now returns to the Emirates, a ground where he’s enjoyed mixed but respectable results since his departure, knowing that another victory would pull Villa level on points with his former club.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
With fixtures coming thick and fast over the festive period, Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his squad on Tuesday, especially after Declan Rice was forced to slot in at right-back against Brighton.Arsenal were already short in defence before Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury during the warm-up, while Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White all remain unavailable. Given those absences, the return of Gabriel Magalhães was a welcome boost, though it’s still unclear whether the Brazilian is ready to start from the off.
Eberechi Eze will be pushing for a place in the starting XI after making a strong impact from the bench. The England international has been directly involved in five goals across his last four home league games against Aston Villa, and he has also found the net in his side’s final league match in each of the past three years.
For Villa, match-winner Ollie Watkins is likely to lead the line once again. The former Arsenal target has scored four times in his last five Premier League appearances at the Emirates and is expected to get the nod ahead of ex-Gunner Donyell Malen.
Unai Emery, meanwhile, is dealing with a couple of enforced changes. Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are both suspended after picking up bookings at Stamford Bridge, with Amadou Onana set to replace Kamara and Lamare Bogarde a likely option at right-back.
Villa also remain without defenders Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, midfielder Ross Barkley, while Evann Guessand is away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 1-1 Aston Villa
Both sides have proven their resilience in recent weeks, often grinding out wins where other teams would fold. So, it could be another back-and-forth contest in North London.
But, after 11 straight wins, Aston Villa's incredible streak may finally end, with Arsenal so tough to beat on home turf. If it does end all square, the beneficiaries would be Man City.
