The game between Arsenal and Aston Villa tomorrow for me will be the toughest game as the two are looking for the three points. Aston villa would hope against hope that Liverpool lost their game to Crystal Palace for them to move to second place if they manage to defeat Arsenal. Naturally, I'd say they don't stand a chance at winning the Gunners but with how they pressurized Man City last time, pushing the citizens into their own half and forcing them to defend instead of attack, i feel they can do same to Arsenal who narrowly escaped losing three points to a small club like Luton Town.
Arsenal has a better defense, the midfielders are doing okay and their attackers don't take chances in front of goal but if there's a problem the Gunners may be having is their keeper, David Raya. The Spaniard sometimes allows himself to be too zealous and as such makes mistakes the opponents usually take to punish them but I'm hoping he'd curb those excesses tomorrow when they meet.
With the way Aston Villa have been playing this season, I will say they are officially in the title race. You can’t outplay Manchester city like that and be ahead of them in the league table and not be a title contender. Their game against Arsenal tomorrow will be a tough one. It won’t be an easy game like their clash with Manchester city where they dominated and restricted them to only 2 shots. Sometimes in games like this, Arsenal usually give very little in away games and their control is always crazy. Don’t be shocked if Aston Villa are reduced to crumbs and do most of the defending. Manchester City had a lot spaces to exploit but they were just flat.
I watched the Aston Villa vs Manchester City match again yesterday. While Villa was good, I believe Pep messed up in his selection. Nico Lewis in the midfield was not right. Manchester City left a big hole in the midfield which Villa exploited. Aston Villa’s defenders were able to pass the ball easily to Kamara and McGinn. Those two had room and parlour to themselves in the midfield. That enabled McGinn throw long passes to Bailey and Watkins to run into.
Rodri/Kovacic in that midfield, with Doku on the wings, and it’d have been a different result.
Arsenal have midfield presence, good defensive structure and reliable and efficient wingers to damage Aston Villa. They had these same players last season and they were humbled 4-2 at Villa’s park. I expect Arteta do set up a good team to beat this Good Aston Villa side tomorrow.