Aston Villa v Arsenal: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Villa Park

Lukas Podolski is set to feature for Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

Few would have predicted Arsenal’s current league position following the reverse fixture at the start of the season.

The Gunners were booed from the pitch as a Christian Benteke inspired Villa came from behind to grab a shock victory but, 19 games later, Arsenal can go top of the league with victory tonight. The result will give Paul Lambert’s side confidence, but their home record against Arsenal is awful; they’ve failed to win any of the last 14.

Benteke is unlikely to come to Villa’s aid either, the out-of-form Belgian has not found the net since mid-September. Arsenal are not without their own attacking problems though, Theo Walcott’s injury will rule him out for the rest of the season, and Arsene Wenger is already stretched for attacking options. Responsibility will fall to the likes of Lukas Podolski, who marked his return from injury with a classy finish and assist on Boxing Day.

Wenger’s side will need to watch the attacking threat from the in-form Gabriel Agbonlahor however, the striker having rescued his side four points in their last two games. The Englishman should shake off a hamstring injury, and his pace will be a crucial factor if Aston Villa are to end their awful home record against the Arsenal.

KICK-OFF: Monday, 8pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Arsenal 1 (Giroud) Aston Villa (Benteke 2, Luna) Premier League, August 2013

Arsenal 2 (Cazorla 2) Aston Villa 1 (Weimann) Premier League, February 2013

Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0 Premier League, November 2012

STATS…

Aston Villa haven’t beaten Arsenal at Villa Park in the past 14 attempts.

Christian Benteke has gone 785 Premier League minutes without scoring.

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil has the most assists in the league with eight.

ODDS…

Aston Villa to win: 6.0

Draw: 3.7

Arsenal to win: 1.6

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm