Arsenal vs Aston Villa
This may not be popular with Gunners fans but it is the strong opinion of this SBOTOP scribe that Arsenal would have won the Premier League in recent years had they persevered with Unai Emery.
The astute Spaniard appeared a smart choice to replace Arsene Wenger when he retired in 2018 following 22 years in North London.
Yet by the end of November 2019, Emery had gone, dispatched after not making the progress the club hierarchy had hoped.
The reality, though, is actually very different as the team was in an almost identical position to when he took over and, looking back, the experienced Spaniard was responsible for signing Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba during his relatively short tenure – two players who are now playing an important part in their title tilt.
Mikel Arteta, the man who ultimately replaced him, actually lifted the FA Cup within eight months of arriving but, since then, it’s been a case of building a squad and near-misses galore.
That is very much the backdrop as Emery returns with Aston Villa with both sides looking to deliver a final set of Premier League 2025 highlights.
Talking Points
2025 was, of course, the year in which Arsenal finished runners-up for the third season in a row, once again their title hopes damaged by Villa who continue to grow in stature with each passing month on a much more limited budget.
While Emery has true pedigree, that is not to decry the efforts of Arteta who is clearly a young manager capable of ensuring Arsenal take that elusive final step to becoming champions for the first time since the “Invincibles” in 2004.
To do so, they cannot afford to see their progress damaged by Emery’s Villa yet again.
Only three weeks ago, Villa inflicted only a second defeat of the campaign on Arsenal, thanks to Emi Buendia’s last-gasp strike.
In fairness to Arsenal, they went into that contest seriously depleted in defence and will hope to be stronger this time around.
Villa travel to north London with growing belief they can continue to shake up the established order at the top of the Premier League.
On Saturday, a superb 2-1 success at Chelsea sealed an 11th straight win in all competitions.
That equalled a club record, set in both September 1897 and March 1914, and means that Villa remain hard on the heels of the pacesetters and Manchester City, just two points behind.
Realistically, few believe Villa can last the pace at the top given they have a much smaller squad than the top two.
Dent Arsenal’s hopes yet again though and that outlook could well change.
History
It was in October 1904 when the then Woolwich Arsenal and Aston Villa – both founder members of the Football League – met for the first time.
That was at the Manor Ground in Plumstead when Arsenal recorded a 1-0 home win with William Henry Gooing scoring the decisive goal.
Since that inaugural clash they have met on a further 205 occasions with Arsenal claiming 88 victories, Villa 72 and 46 matches ending all square.
One of those was the 2015 FA Cup Final when the Gunners ran riot with a 4-0 success.
Villa, however, all but cost Arsenal the title two years ago as they inflicted major damage with a league double.
John McGinn scored an early goal to give the Villians a 1-0 home win in December.
Then in April, when the title was in Arsenal’s hands, Villa mopped up the pressure and scored twice in the final six minutes – though Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins – to deliver a blow from which Arsenal never recovered.
With that, the momentum belonged to Manchester City and they never looked back.
Earlier last season, a close contest was settled by two goals in 10 second half minutes from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey.
Villa were at it again in January as they fought back from two goals down in North London when Youri Tielemans and Watkins scored twice in eight second half minutes after Martinelli and Kai Havertz had put Arsenal in the ascendancy.
Buendia and Matty Cash goals then heaped more pain on the Gunners in a 2-1 Villa Park success earlier this month (Trossard replied) which means the gap at the top has closed.
Betting Tip
The Premier League 2025 betting odds don’t give Villa much of a chance.
That is surprising, although in one sense, perhaps that is partly based on the fact they are just coming off the back of a tough encounter at Chelsea a mere 72 hours earlier and haven’t got the biggest squad.
They are priced 1X2 @ 6.20 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.06 compared to the Gunners 1X2 @ 1.45 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 1.84.
The draw @ 3.98 is very attractive, as is a repeat of the corresponding meeting 11 months ago with Correct Score 2-2 on offer @ 23.00.
Villa won 2-1 a few weeks ago and a repeat will earn you a very tidy payday @ 23.00 with Correct Score.
I think there will likely be the same number of goals but, instead of opting for total goal 2-3 @ 1.99, I’m going to be bolder as we say farewell to 2025.
As a result my ** tip is total goal 4-6 @ 3.32.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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