Arsenal's strong rearguard to stand firm at Villa
Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime looking to gain a march on their top four competitors.
The Gunners were at their mercurial best in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Leicester City, with Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette making things comfortable at the Emirates Stadium.
Villa have been quite up and down since Steven Gerrard replaced Dean Smith in the dugout, at their best they are a top ten outfit, but are yet to establish the consistency to be anything but a lower mid table side.
Given they lost their talisman in Jack Grealish in the summer, it has been a satisfactory season in covering for losing him and transitioning in some new key players.
Process
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners appear to be in the driving seat to beat Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to fourth spot, and in that seal qualification for the Champions League.
Villa have a lot more recovery, which could certainly be a factor, and will relish taking on the Gunners in front of a partisan Villa Park crowd.
Villa have overperformed unsustainably to score 41 goals from 32.6 expected goals (xG), at an average of 1.16 xGF per game.
Arsenal are a more fluid attacking unit, averaging 1.73 xGF per game, with the North Londoners boasting a very young and exciting forward line.
Lacazette has been holding it together, with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli operating around him with Emile Smith Rowe providing intense competition for places.
Both teams have been very impressive defensively this season, and with a strong finish to the campaign they will be able to hit their objectives.
Goals?
Two clubs with a rich history of playing out entertaining games against each other could see this one a little less enterprising, with a busy schedule seeing Arsenal rely more on their defensive process to earn a foothold in the game.
Villa have scored in seven of ten.
Villa have conceded in six of ten.
Villa have seen both teams score in three of ten.
Villa have seen over 2.5 goals in five of ten.
Arsenal have scored in six of ten.
Arsenal have conceded in six of ten.
Arsenal have seen both teams score in four of ten.
Arsenal have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
Villa gain an important edge on Arsenal with the Gunners playing Liverpool in midweek, therefore this could be a lot closer than the quality of the sides suggests.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
1-0 Saka, Arsenal's top four pursuit continues.