Mikel Arteta believes his 'sensational' Arsenal are capable of catching Liverpool in the Premier League title race ahead of Aston Villa on Saturday.
Arsenal lost in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup – the latter on penalties to Manchester United – but bounced back with a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
That top-flight win moved Arsenal within four points of Liverpool, who have a game in hand next month, and Arteta is confident of chasing Arne Slot's men.
Asked if Arsenal are title contenders, the Spaniard said: “Yes, we are. There is so much to play for. We can see how difficult it is for every team.”
Speaking about the performance against Spurs, he added: “We were sensational. It was a big test after two games and we weren't rewarded.
“We were incredibly good in the last game against United and somehow we lost in the end.
“It's how you respond to a situation. These guys want more. They want to be tested and questioned, and then they want to get on the field.”
The winning moment pic.twitter.com/0ayufbIRso
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 16, 2025
Villa won 1-0 at Everton in midweek as Ollie Watkins' goal lifted his side to seventh in the table.
“I'm happy and a clean sheet is very important,” said former Arsenal manager Unai Emery before looking ahead to Saturday.
“The most important thing is to win, but we are conceding a lot of goals, more than normal, and I don't know exactly why.
“We have had a bad period in the last games we have played in the Premier League and we are trying to be consistent in the table, get into the top ten and try to perform more or less all season with the possibility of to play in the top ten.” Champions League.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal – Martin Odegaard
Since his first start after returning from injury against Chelsea in November, Martin Odegaard has created 42 chances in all competitions.
That's almost twice as many as any other Arsenal player, with Declan Rice next on 23, and Odegaard is expected to pull the strings again on Saturday.
Martin Odegaard makes it look easy pic.twitter.com/rl0ftAGz9H
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 16, 2025
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
Watkins was involved in 98 goals (68 goals, 30 assists) in 167 Premier League games, with only Gabriel Agbonlahor achieving triple figures for Villa in the competition (108).
The Villa forward has also only scored more top-flight goals against Brighton (seven) than against Arsenal (five), with three of his five coming against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal are the heavy favorites to win on Saturday, despite their recent struggles against Emery's side.
Villa have won five of their last ten Premier League meetings with Arsenal (L5), as many as in their previous 46 games against the Gunners (D14, L27).
Emery's visitors were also 2-0 winners in this match last season, but Arsenal have not lost consecutive home games against Villa since their first two Premier League meetings in 1992/93 and 1993/94.
That loss to Villa last April was Arsenal's only defeat in their previous 13 home games in the Premier League. The last time he achieved a longer run was when he made 16 appearances without defeat under Emery in the 2018/19 season.
A draw should also be out of the question as none of the last eighteen meetings between Arsenal and Villa in this competition have ended in a draw.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Arsenal win – 61.2%
Draw – 20.5%
Aston Villa win – 18.4%
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