Football Bet of the Day: Villa can test title-chasing Gunners

Arsenal’s title challenge continues on Sunday when they host top-four hopefuls Aston Villa and Mikel Areta’s men will be expecting a tough examination at the Emirates.

The Gunners, fresh from being held 2-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek, know they can barely afford a slip-up in the title race as rivals Manchester City and Liverpool remain firmly in the hunt at the top.

Villa, who beat the Gunners 1-0 at home earlier in the campaign, have enjoyed a fantastic season under Unai Emery and are pushing for a top-four finish, while also going for glory in the Europa Conference League.

Arsenal to win and both teams to score @ 8/5

Arsenal have been outstanding in recent weeks and haven’t shown any signs of cracking as the thrilling three-way title chase hots up.

Arteta’s side have won 10 of their last 11 games in the top flight with only a valuable 0-0 draw at City at the end of last month stopping them from posting a perfect winning record since January 20.

During that run they have kept seven clean sheets with their well-organised, rock-solid defence clearly the basis on which they have built this superb season.

The Gunners have conceded only 24 goals from their 31 games, meaning they comfortably have the best defence in the top flight.

But if anyone can score past them, then it’s Sunday’s opponents Villa.

Emery’s men will be full of confidence after seeing off Lille 2-1 in their Conference League quarter-final first leg on Thursday and this is a team who average just under two goals per game in the league with an impressive 66 scored from their 32 matches so far.

Villa have failed to score in only two of their last 15 outings in all competitions and have plenty of attacking talent in the shape of 25-goal Ollie Watkins as well as Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey, who have both also had fine seasons.

Furthermore, Villa usually score on their travels in the top flight with only three road trips having resulted in a blank for Emery’s men.

They have racked up 20 goals in their last 10 away league games, scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Old Trafford, The London Stadium and, most recently, the Etihad so a trip to the Emirates will not daunt them.
Villa haven’t always won those away games, but more often than not are competitive against other sides in and around them in the table, usually asking as many questions in the final third as their hosts.

Emery sets his team up with precise organisation, but he is never afraid to attack and, even though Arsenal will likely dominate possession at times on Sunday, the visitors have enough threat to damage them on the break.

Arsenal will give everything to pick up another vital three points - and will probably get them - but a confident, well-drilled Villa side can more than play their part.

Football bet of the day from Betfred Insights.