Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as the Gunners look to respond to their title rivals’ results with crucial win in their pursuit
Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
Ouch!
Aston Villa have started on the front foot and John McGinn has just wellied an effort into the face of Leandro Trossard.
He certainly felt that, I did too and I was just watching.
KICK-OFF: Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa
Ian Ladyman is right, you can feel the nerves inside the Emirates.
Arsenal will want to get off to a quick start and we are now underway.
This is set to be a cracker.
‘Early goal may be needed to settle some nerves’
Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Emirates Stadium:
There were a few shouts and fist pumps among Arsenal staff in the media room at the Emirates when the whistle blew on Liverpool’s home defeat to Crystal Palace.Arsenal’s job now is to ensure that a two-horse race doesn’t become a procession for Manchester City.I have to say the Emirates isn’t sounding quite as excitable as I expected. Like every team at this stage of the season, an early goal may be needed to settle some nerves…
Here come the teams
This game now feels bigger than before after the Liverpool result.
The atmosphere is tense but loud, and expectations are high at the Emirates.
Will they be cheering with regularity today, or will Aston Villa take another step toward Champions League football.
Gunners being put through their paces
There’s just under 15 minutes until kick off at the Emirates.
It promises to be a cracker, with huge permutations in both the title and top four race after defeats for Liverpool and Tottenham this weekend.
Arsenal’s mean defence
Despite the slightly frustrating draw in midweek against Bayern Munich, Arsenal have been in sensational form since the turn of the year, winning 10 of their 11 league games.
They’ve conceded just four goals in that time in what is an astonishing record, with the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White in inspired form.
And what a huge opportunity for the Gunners to return to the top of the Premier League this afternoon.
A huge result in the title race
Did anybody see that coming,I certainly did it.
I wonder if the Arsenal players will have seen this result, will it affect them out on the pitch? I doubt it.
I big chance for the Gunners to tighten their grip on this title race.
Last time out
It was a frustrating evening for Arsenal last time these sides met, with John McGinn’s goal the difference before Kai Havertz had a late equaliser disallowed.
The victory for Villa came in the midst of their stunning run of 15 home wins in a row.
They’ll be hoping for a replica of that performance at the Emirates today and you can catch up on highlights from the clash at Villa Park below.
Exclusive:Douglas Luiz interview
One man missing today for Aston Villa is Douglas Luiz, with the Brazilian midfielder suspended.
He’s been integral in Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery and this week he sat down with Mail Sport’s IAN LADYMAN for a fascinating interview.
Luiz’s journey from the favelas to international football was discussed, plus his relationship with superstar women’s footballer Alisha Lehmann and his experiences working with both Emery and Pep Guardiola.
Read the brilliant piece below…
DOUGLAS LUIZ has seen people stabbed: His brutally honest interview
Twists in the title race
There’s sure to be plenty more twists and turns to come in the title race, but one of the shocks of the season is currently unfolding at Anfield.
Liverpool hadn’t lost at home since February 2023 before their dismal 3-0 defeat by Atalanta on Thursday, but they could be about to lose two home matches in a row.
The Reds trail Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to Eberechi Eze’s early goal and would lose vital ground in the title race with a defeat.
You can follow full coverage of the final stages of that crunch clash below…
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace – Premier League: Live score and updates
Arsenal TEAM NEWS
A slight delay from Arsenal’s social media team in announcing their line-up, but here we are.
It’s three changes from Mikel Arteta after their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in midweek, with Zinchenko, Trossard and Jesus replacing Kiwior, Martinelli and Jorginho.
The Gunners will be desperate to get back to the top of the league after Man City hammered Luton 5-1 yesterday.
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Aston Villa TEAM NEWS
Unai Emery makes two changes from the side that beat Lille in the Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.
Douglas Luiz is suspended, so Nicolo Zaniolo is rewarded with a rare start.
Meanwhile, Moussa Diaby replaces Leon Bailey, who drops to the bench.
Former Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez will be hoping to make his former club pay today.
Team news incoming…
Arsenal looking for revenge
Arsenal are out to prove a point today after Emery’s men got the better of the Gunners when these two sides last met in December.
The Villains – enjoying a real hot streak of results at the time – won 1-0 courtesy of a very well worked team move finished by John McGinn.
Will it be revenge or repeat this time around?
First up, a warning for Arsenal…
Villa seem to be in a bullish mood ahead of their trip to London, at least according to winger Morgan Rogers.
Before the game, he was asked about his side’s chances against the title contenders, before referencing their 1-0 win over them at Villa Park earlier in the campaign.
Read the full story below.
‘We’ve beaten them once’ Aston Villa star sends warning to Arsenal
Good afternoon and welcome!
We’ve got a huge clash in the title race coming up for you at the Emirates in a game that also has massive ramifications for the top four race.
It should be an intriguing and entertaining one in north London as Mikel Arteta welcomes his Arsenal predecessor Unai Emery looking for a third league win in a row.
Villa, meanwhile, have stuttered a little bit in their quest to reach Europe’s elite after losing 4-1 to Man City before a 3-3 draw to Brentford, but they will take confidence from top four rivals Tottenham being thrashed 4-0 by Newcastle yesterday.
Tune in and follow our live blog for all the latest updates, team news and goals as they happen.
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