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Aston Villa vs Arsenal Premier League Tips & Prediction - Arsenal too strong for new-look Villa side

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Mon. 31 Aug. 2026 05:54

Andrew Hendrie 31 Aug. 2026

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Aston Villa vs Arsenal predictions for Monday's EPL Round 2 game
Villa all over the place & forced into unexpected rebuild
Arsenal backed for a routine win with Under 3.5 goals; Havertz & Tzolis impact
The game is scheduled for kick off at 5.00am AEST on Tuesday September 1

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Aston Villa vs Arsenal Premier League Tips & Prediction

Villa are in a transitional period and coming off the back of a 4-0 hammering last week. I don't think Arsenal will put them to the sword in quite the same fashion, but the Gunners should still come away with a relatively comfortable victory with Under 3.5 total goals as striker Kai Havertz looks to continue his red-hot start to the season.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal Premier League Tips & Prediction
Aston Villa vs Arsenal Stats & Trends
Aston Villa vs Arsenal Head To Head
Aston Villa Form Analysis
Aston Villa Team News
Arsenal Form Analysis
Arsenal Team News

It's been a nightmare offseason for Villa, with half of their starting side that won the Europa League departing the club. Desperately trying to assemble a new-look squad before the transfer window closes, Unai Emery saw his side suffer a crushing 4-0 defeat to Brighton last week - and now they must welcome the reigning champions to Villa Park for Monday Night Football.

By contrast, Arsenal were easy 3-0 winners on opening day at home over newly-promoted Coventry, with Havertz and new Greek signing Christos Tzolis impressing in the final third.

Mikel Arteta's side didn't really do anything special, but that sort of football won them the title and their settled and stable side looks like the team to beat in these early stages of the new campaign.

I think Villa will offer a bit of a response at home, but I can't see their freshly put together squad asking too many questions of Arsenal's defence.

I'm taking Arsenal to win and Under 3.5 goals, while Havertz and Tzolis are backed in player prop bets.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal Stats & Trends

Arsenal's last 14 competitive wins saw Under 3.5 goals
Villa are on a four-game losing run from the preseason
Villa failed to score in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton last week
Havertz has scored vs City and Coventry in his two games to open the season
Tzolis had a game-high four shots & eight touches in the opposition box last week - he was unlucky not to be credited for an assist for Arsenal's second goal
Tzolis had 49 goals/assists in 51 games in all comps for Club Brugge last season

Aston Villa vs Arsenal Head To Head

Arsenal hold a 89-72 winning record over Villa, along with 46 draws. The Gunners have won three of the last five meetings at Villa Park. The most-recent meeting saw Arsenal come away with a 4-1 victory at the Emirates during last season's festive period.

Aston Villa Form Analysis

Look, definitely not the ideal start to the season for Villa, who harboured ambitions of kicking on from last season's Europa League triumph and seriously challenging Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Truth be told, they were probably a couple of really good signings away from doing so, but instead they've lost the likes of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez and been forced into a rebuilding transitional period.

It was a horror opening game of the season for Villa as they went down 4-0 after 31 minutes away to Brighton, with Victor Lindelof scoring an own goal and Joao Gomes receiving a red card on debut.

Aston Villa Team News

Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka have both arrived as marquee new signings, but might have to settle for coming off the bench in this one.

Gomes is suspended for the next three games, while young attackers Johan Manzambi and Brian Madjo are also likely to be sidelined with their respective injuries.

Possible Aston Villa Starting XI (4-3-3): Zion Suzuki; Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelöf, Ian Maatsen; Lamare Bogarde, Boubacar Kamara; John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, Alejandro Garnacho; Tammy Abraham

Arsenal Form Analysis

Perfect start to the season for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side have won both games, picked up a trophy, scored six goals and conceded zero, beating Man City 3-0 for the Community Shield before last week's repeat scoreline over Coventry to launch their Premier League title defence.

Greek winger Tzolis made an immediate impact with a game-high four shots and eight touches in the opposition box, while Havertz made it two goals in two games as he looks to cement himself as the Gunners' first-choice striker ahead of Viktor Gyokeres.

Bukayo Saka was also lively with a goal and three shots, while Martin Odegaard polished off the game early in the second half.

Arsenal Team News

Former Villa man Konsa is available for selection, but Arteta is unlikely to tinker with his defence ahead of this one.

Marquee midfield signing Bruno Guimaraes is a chance to feature after missing last week's season opener with a minor groin complaint.

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have both departed the club over the last week, with the latter set to join Barcelona.

Arsenal Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Christos Tzolis; Kai Havertz

Verdict

Aston Villa v Arsenal

Arsenal are backed for the win with Under 3.5 goals, with Havertz & Tzolis getting amongst the goals.

Arsenal Win

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