Leon Bailey scored the game’s lone goal as Pep Guardiola’s team lost, but it could have been more. All eyes will now be on the weekend, when Unai Emery takes on his former club in the hopes of a successful outcome after leading his team to a 14-game winning streak at home. A victory for Villa would move them to within a point of the Gunners, while a victory from the men from North London is necessary to maintain their title push.
On Tuesday, Luton Town and Arsenal played at Kenilworth Road in a thrilling seven-goal match. Following goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli earlier in the contest, Declan Rice gave Arsenal the lead in the 97th minute.
Villa will look to snap a four-match losing streak against Arsenal after defeating Man City to end a ten-year wait. Villa’s most recent victory over Arsenal came at the Emirates in August 2013, when they prevailed 3-1 behind goals from Christian Benteke and Antonio Luna.
Will a day’s extra sleep make any difference in the game? It is yet to be determined. Due to his third yellow card of the season, Mikel Arteta will not be shaking hands with Emery in the opposing dugout and will instead be suspended from the touchline for this Premier League match. The most recent team news for the Villains and the Gunners can be found here.
1. Bertrand Traore
Returned from international duty with Burkina Faso with an injury. Limited to just ten minutes of Premier League action this season.
2. Tyrone Mings – out
Out for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign with a knee injury.
3. Emi Buendia – out
Expected to be out for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign after suffering a knee injury
4. Fabio Vieira – out
Expected to be out for a few weeks. He was sent to see a specialist and they did an operation to address a groin injury.
5. Fabio Vieira – out (continued)
Mikel Arteta said on November 28: “We don’t expect him to do that [be back this side of the break], so let’s see how he evolves, and obviously, the operation was done yesterday, so we’re going to have to wait and see.”
6. Takehiro Tomiyasu – out (continued)
Mikel Arteta said on December 6: “We had a scan, and it’s not good news. “He’s got an injury in his calf, and he’s going to be out for a while.”
7. Takehiro Tomiyasu – out (continued)
The Japan international is expected to be out for between four to six weeks with a calf injury. He came off against Wolves last weekend, and a scan revealed that the problem was more serious than initially thought.
8. Thomas Partey – out
The midfielder had a procedure to address a ‘significant’ thigh injury and is likely to miss the remainder of 2023.
When Aston Villa hosts league leaders Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday, December 9, they seek to build on their recent success. After pulling off a historic triumph over the defending champions Man City, Villa is now looking to upset its title rivals once more. Pep Guardiola’s team was defeated by Leon Bailey’s game-winning goal, but there could have been more.
Now that the focus is on the weekend, Unai Emery faces his old team with high expectations following his 14-game winning streak at home. Villa’s success would move them to within one point of the Gunners, while the North Londoners’ triumph is necessary to keep up their title challenge.
