The game of this weekend sees Aston Villa, coached by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, host the Gunners in the Midlands. Both teams got their campaigns off to winning starts on the opening weekend- Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 while Villa got the better of Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham.
Here are the pundit predictions for this GW2 clash.
Chris Sutton
On the BBC, Sutton noted that AVFC did the league double over Arsenal in 23/24– the only team to do so last season.
Sutton thinks the fixture “smells of a draw” but reckons the Gunners will win 2-1.
Paul Merson
Merson thinks this is the start of a tough little period for Arsenal, with fixtures against Man City and Spurs also due to come early next month, and says the wrong results could even see the Gunners out of the title race by October.
Merson however reckons that Arsenal will edge this clash, but Villa will score, and like Sutton, has backed Mikel Arteta’s side to run out 2-1 winners.
Alan Shearer
Shearer says Arsenal’s loss to Villa in April effectively cost them the title last season.
Reckons this has the makings of a scoreless draw, but backs Villa to again beat the Gunners.
Mark Lawrenson
Lawro reckons this is a good time for Villa to face the Gunners because once the Champions League starts, they could find it tough to balance both competitions.
He also thinks Douglas Luiz is a big loss for the Villans and reckons Arsenal will make a statement by winning 2-1 at Villa Park, with Kai Havertz to score for the visitors.
Summary
Sutton: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
Merson: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
Shearer: Villa will win
Lawrenson: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal, with Havertz scoring.
