Fired-up Arsenal to extend run over miserable Aston Villa
The last time Aston Villa beat Arsenal at home, the Spice Girls were top of the charts and Bill Clinton was being impeached. Even more remarkably, Villa were first in the top-flight table.
Since that match in December 1998, the Gunners have taken 26 victories from 35 meetings in all competitions. Villa have managed only one.
The most recent of those Arsenal triumphs was the 4-0 win in May's FA Cup final, when Tim Sherwood’s side were humbled by the attacking verve of Alexis Sanchez and Co.
Sherwood has since departed, replaced by former Arsenal man Remi Garde, who was at the club in 1998 but did not feature in that match, and Sanchez is missing through injury, but I can’t see a change in fortune for Villa on Saturday.
The Birmingham outfit are rooted to the bottom of the table and are yet to win at home all year, while Arsenal could move into top spot if results go their way this weekend.
Buoyed by Champions League progression that seemed so unlikely earlier in the season, Arsenal go into this game full of confidence and looking to steady a wobble that saw them without a win in three before last week’s success against Sunderland.
The Gunners came through a potentially nervy tie against Olympiacos with consummate ease, and I can only see the feel-good factor continuing on Sunday.
Betway offer Arsenal HT/FT at 5/4 and, considering they led all three ties against Villa last term at both the break and the final whistle, this looks the right bet.
Those games saw Arsenal score 12 times without reply and, against a Villa side that are the league’s lowest scorers, I can’t see this one being close.
I would also look to buy Arsenal supremacy at 1.2 with Sporting Index in what could be another difficult afternoon for Villa’s supporters.
Pointers
Arsenal HT/FT 5/4 (Betway)
Buy Arsenal supremacy 1.2 (Sporting Index)