On Wednesday, Arsenal will look to build on their excellent start to the season and it is only logical that this should happen. Aston Villa arrives at the Emirates Stadium for a match from the first intermediate round of the current campaign. It’s the Gunners’ second consecutive home game in the Premier League and it’s days before the first big hurdle, namely the visit of Old Trafford. As for the Villains, they are off to a poor start, welcoming champions Manchester City on Saturday.
After four rounds played, Arsenal is the only team with a full asset of points and therefore occupies the first position. The Gunners also have the best goal difference, having scored at least two goals in each of their victories, and have kept a clean sheet in their two visits so far. Such is still lacking at home, with Fulham taking the lead in north London on Saturday after a blunder by Gabriel Magalias. Great was Arsenal’s response after that goal and they deservedly pulled off a complete turnaround.
Aston Villa remain with the asset of three points, which was won with a 2-1 success over Everton. It is clear that the team will rely mainly on meetings at “Villa Park”, but one of them has already been slept on. The Villans didn’t play well on Sunday and ended up losing 1-0 to West Ham. This was the second game in which Gerrard’s boys did not manage to sign off, while in all the meetings so far at least one goal was conceded.
Arsenal won both meetings with this opponent last season after surprisingly losing the previous three. Today, the Gunners are absolute favorites to win and I expect the first possible swings from them next weekend in Manchester. The season is just beginning and this extra day off for the Londoners is an added bonus with Aston Villa meeting Bolton in the League Cup midweek last week. I do not doubt the home three points, expecting an advance for Arsenal at the break. So far, the team only got one against Fulham, but there were plenty of opportunities.
