Chris Sutton has previewed Arsenal’s 2025-ending Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
In the final game of the calendar year, Arsenal will be desperate to bid farewell to 2025 with three points.
Despite still being relatively early into the season, the contest feels far bigger than merely a battle for three points, as Aston Villa and Manchester City are breathing down Arsenal’s neck in the title race.
Unai Emery’s side will be weakened slightly as they head to the Emirates due to two suspensions; however, carrying an 11-game winning streak, the Villans will arrive feeling stronger than ever.
Do you expect Mikel Arteta to make a bold call against Aston Villa? If so, who?
Chris Sutton thinks Arsenal will beat Aston Villa
While Emery will be without Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash, Arsenal received a double boost ahead of the game, as Ben White and Kai Havertz could return.
The Gunners will need all the help they can get, as Villa are the team to beat right now, but Chris Sutton thinks Arsenal are capable of weathering the storm.
Taking to his BBC Sport column, Sutton admitted he ‘loves what Villa are doing’, but has backed Arsenal to get the win.
“I just have a feeling Arsenal will find a way to win this,” Sutton said, stating that he expects Arteta’s side to find a way to turn things up a notch.
Such is needed, as Arsenal have been underperforming spectacularly in front of goal, though Sutton thinks Tuesday night’s hosts could score two.
The pundit predicted a 2-1 scoreline, confident that Arsenal will bring Villa’s incredible winning streak to an end.
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League record against Unai Emery
Arteta has the tools to beat Villa, particularly as his squad are armed with a feeling of redemption following the cruel defeat at Villa Park just weeks ago.
The Arsenal manager needs a win now more than ever to send a statement to the remainder of the Premier League, but it won’t be easy to achieve.
How does Mikel Arteta beat Unai Emery? What advice would you give the Arsenal manager ahead of tonight’s game?
Arteta’s record against Emery in the Premier League is far from where the boss will want it to be, as in six meetings, Arsenal have only won twice, losing three and drawing one.
What is rather unnerving is that Arsenal have never beaten Villa at home while Emery and Arteta have been managers of the two clubs, adding yet another layer to the importance of tonight’s fixture.
Sutton thinks Arsenal will get a long overdue win over Villa in N5, but do you?
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