Let’s be straightforward. Aston Villa, not Manchester City, is the real reason Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title last season.
In the final weeks of the season, much was made of Pep Guardiola’s formidable squad, and rightly so. However, if Arsenal had managed to beat Aston Villa at the Emirates—where they were otherwise nearly flawless—they would have clinched the title by a single point.
It’s worth noting that Unai Emery’s team managed to do the double over Arsenal last season, the only team to achieve that. In those two matches, Arsenal failed to score while Villa netted three goals.
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Mikel Arteta often talks about fine margins and the importance of revenge. This upcoming match offers an early chance for redemption as he takes his team to the Midlands for a late kick-off on Saturday.
Both teams won their opening games: Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Wolves, while Aston Villa won 2-1 at West Ham. Their strong performances are a continuation from last season, where Villa secured the final Champions League spot, surpassing Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
This match is set to be a thrilling encounter. With Manchester City facing newly-promoted Ipswich, one of these teams might already be playing catch-up. Arsenal will be eager to address last season’s mistakes and at least earn a point.
Villa, known for their tenacity and impressive home record, will likely approach the game similarly to last season’s encounters, which ended 1-0 and 2-0 in their favor. Expect another tight contest with few goals.