Chris Sutton has predicted on BBC Sport that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will win against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa away from home at Villa Park in the Premier League this weekend.
The former Chelsea striker and BBC Sport pundit believes that Arsenal will pick up all three points from the encounter courtesy of a 2-1 win.
Arsenal are second in the Premier League table at the moment with 51 points from 22 matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side are level on points with leaders and defending champions Manchester City, who have played 23 games.
Arsenal will head into the match against Emery’s side on the back of a 3-1 defeat to City at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Villa currently find themselves 11th in the Premier League table with 28 points from 22 matches.
The Villans went down 3-1 to City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.
Chris Sutton predicts Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Sutton wrote: “This has turned into a crucial game for Arsenal, who are without a win in four matches in all competitions.
“It’s not the case that they have lost form – I was at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for BBC Radio 5 Live and in the first half they were very good, although Manchester City controlled things after the break.
“It doesn’t really matter how well the Gunners play here, though. They just need to find a way to win.
“It’s really important for their manager and the fans, but also the players too. They are a young team, who had a fantastic first half of the season, but the longer they go without a victory, the more pressure they will come under.
“Villa will be awkward opponents, however, as they showed when they played City on Sunday. They carried a threat in the second half and could have made it a tense finish.
“I can see them causing Arsenal problems too and my head is telling me this will be a draw, but I am going to follow my heart – and my heart wants there to be a title race this season.”
Who will win?
We think that Arsenal will bounce back from the defeat to Manchester City.
Yes, the Gunners are not in the best of form at the moment, but they do have a better team than the Villans.
Villa are at home, and manager Unai Emery will also be determined to win against his former club Arsenal.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will drill it into his players the imperative need to get a win this weekend.
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