Much-changed Aston Villa looking to put an early dent in Arsenal's title aspirations

[infobox id="c5ce5f5a-ccb6-468f-9fce-bb4a330c372a" /][p]Not to mention that in the intervening period, goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-emiliano/ziCcc5jM/"]Emi Martinez[/a] has joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a], whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watkins-ollie/rHnOkDD8/"]Ollie Watkins[/a] looks to be making a move to Saudi Pro League side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-hilal-al-nassr-stars/niRHD73J/"]Al Hilal[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abraham-tammy/OYhxyduf/"]Tammy Abraham[/a] is seemingly on the verge of joining [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ipswich/thqhB2MB/"]Ipswich Town[/a].[/p][h2]New signings could debut at Villa Park[/h2][p]The good news in terms of transfers is that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/goretzka-leon/l2JpsMjB/"]Leon Goreztka[/a] has signed on a free, and the deal for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Nicolas Jackson[/a] was done in time for this match, so the former Chelsea man is likely to make his debut at Villa Park.[/p][p]Emery will certainly be hoping for a change in fortunes as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Villa[/a] have lost four in a row, taking into account the UEFA Super Cup game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] and pre-season friendlies against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/b-monchengladbach/88HSzjDr/"]Borussia Monchengladbach[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a].[/p][embed guid="4f06c71e-e5ec-4a46-8c24-29b9c67e36fa" url="https://x.com/AstonVilla/status/2093443755475103832" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Villans did beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] at Villa Park last season, of course, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buendia-emiliano/dYDvGYIu/"]Emi Buendia[/a] fired home the winner with the last kick of the game to spark crazy scenes in the stands.[/p][p]In fact, Villa have won four of their seven home games against the Gunners since returning to the Premier League in 2019, which is more than they had in the previous 24 home fixtures (three).[/p][h2]Villa have beaten the reigning champions in the last three seasons[/h2][p]Arsenal being the reigning champions won't faze the hosts either, as they've won the last three home matches against the previous season's league winners ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] 2023/24 and 2024/25, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] 2025/26), which is as many as they'd managed in their previous 28 seasons (W3, D10, L15).[/p][p]Villa Park is a happy hunting ground for the North Londoners though, as Arsenal have won 15 times there, more than at any other stadium in their Premier League history.[/p][image alt="Aston Villa v Arsenal - Recent H2H results" id="c18690f7-ef4d-4ba1-83b2-e0f4aefbb192" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="38bcc729-8d5f-4977-8038-29a2a06554f2" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]The Gunners have also won their last four opening away games to an EPL campaign, but interestingly have never done so on five consecutive occasions.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Mikel Arteta[/a], in charge of his 250th Premier League game, is likely to be encouraged by the fact that the Villans have failed to score in five of their last six matches to be played in August. [/p][h2]Arteta looking to add to his impressive win rate[/h2][p]In fact, taking into account Emery's own time in North London, the Villa manager has lost eight of the 16 matches that his teams have played during the eighth month of the year.[/p][p]Though the Midlanders haven't lost their opening two games of a Premier League season since 2019/20, and not since 2002/03 have they not scored in either of the first two matches, Arteta will be looking to add to his own impressive 60.2% win rate from his games in charge.[/p][embed guid="274d4ff0-4321-4934-a63e-8d9b87649004" url="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/2093247942165483917" social-type="twitter" /][p]Only Jurgen Klopp (62.2%), Sir Alex Ferguson (65.2%) and Pep Guardiola (70.8%) have a better win percentage of those managers that have overseen 250+ Premier League games.[/p][p]A 3-0 opening-day victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/coventry/GOvB22xg/"]Coventry[/a] was the best way for the Gunners to begin their 2026/27 campaign, too, with captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odegaard-martin/ID32TGhp/"]Martin Odegaard[/a] on the scoresheet. [/p][p]The Norwegian's goal meant that he's already matched his total from 2025/26, though he's not managed to score in consecutive matches since May 2023.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/?mid=27MtCUO7"]Follow Aston Villa v Arsenal with Flashscore![/a][/h2][h2]Madueke to start after excellent Coventry cameo?[/h2][p]In [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/madueke-chukwunonso/Ac57P9Pt/"]Noni Madueke[/a], Arsenal had a player who created more chances than anyone else on the pitch against the Sky Blues (four), despite him not being subbed on by Arteta until the 68th minute of the match.[/p][p]Whether that cameo will ensure he earns a starting spot at Villa Park will be seen in due course, though two players who definitely won't play any part for the visitors are [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saliba-william/EgIM3sB7/"]William Saliba[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a]. New signing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Bruno Guimaraes[/a] will face a late fitness test after picking up a knock.[/p][image alt="Aston Villa v Arsenal - Win probability" id="702a2fea-533a-47a8-a169-d33040641c73" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a57bbffe-5f0c-4f27-9871-c24c1b38c883" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]Villa are struggling with injuries themselves, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/onana-amadou/roId3gPf/"]Amadou Onana[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/manzambi-johan/pIqmcnKc/"]Johan Manzambi[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/madjo-brian/UwsMiPon/"]Brian Madjo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bailey-leon/Mc0XPojG/"]Leon Bailey[/a] out.[/p][p]Watkins and Abraham won't play any part, and may have completed their transfers out by kick-off in any event, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-gomes/rcOLZhUD/"]Joao Gomes[/a] is suspended after being red-carded in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] defeat.[/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]