In a particularly busy week of a congested month and season, at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime Arsenal will face their second Premier League contest of December, prior to their excursion to Belgium in the Champions League on Wednesday. In all, the Gunners will contest eight games across three competitions in December concluding with the reverse league fixture against Villa on the 30th in North London. So far, so good of course as we are topping the table in two different leagues, but with our injury situation continuing to be in flux we might all offer a note of thanks to the powers that be that we strengthened our squad last summer for months exactly like this one.
Aston Villa
Unai Emery’s Midlands muchachos played sluggishly the first few weeks of the season, and in late September they were languishing in 18th spot in the table but after eight wins in nine Premier League games Villa have regained the belief that can beat anyone. After 14 matches played, the Birmingham side now sit 3rd in the table with 27 points, or 6 fewer than Arsenal. Villa won their fourth successive league contest in midweek with an impressive 4-3 victory at Brighton after conceding the first two goals.
The Villa team that started at Brighton on Wednesday was: Bizot, Maatsen, Torres, Konsa, Cash, Onana, Kamara, Guessand, Rogers, McGinn, and Watkins, with substitutes Bogarde, Buendía, Digne, García, Malen, Lindelöf, Sancho, and Tielemans. Second choice keeper Bizot, who started when Martinez was injured in the warmup, conceded within ten minutes after flapping at a Brighton corner, and conceded another one on a deflection before the half hour. Villa’s attackers were ineffective until Watkins turned in a cross and made it 2-2 on a counterattack just before halftime. Onana’s header put Villa ahead by 3-2 on 60 minutes, and ex-Arsenal youth Malen made it four after coming off the bench before Brighton got a consolation goal. Villa displayed an impressive spirit and determination to pull off that comeback, and they have played themselves into excellent form as well as an excellent perch near the top of the table.
Villa present a distinct danger on free kicks so the Gunners must do what they can to deny such opportunities, even as the referee may not cooperate on that score. Buendía and Rogers tallied masterful free kick goals in Villa’s recent league wins over Bournemouth and Leeds, respectively. After their most recent home game last Sunday when Villa beat Wolves, their Basque boss commended the rejuvenated atmosphere at Villa Park: “The fans transmit positive energy and it helps us to connect with the supporters. It’s like our fortress.”
Arsenal team news
Saliba missed the last three games with a minor injury but before the Brentford match Arteta said he could be back within days, so your guess is as good as mine whether Big Willy will be part of our central defensive pairing but after Mosquera came off during Wednesday’s game I think and hope Saliba may return. If not, Ben White could continue at right back with Timber moving centrally as he did in the second half against Brentford. On the other side Calafiori may be due a rest, and MLS stands ready to deputise, but the challenge presented by Villa away may make it a good time to stay with the Italian’s physicality.
Up front, Trossard is still an injury doubt but Gyokeres and Odegaard have been back for the last two games so should feature again. In central midfield, Arteta might look for a way to include both Ødegaard and Eze. One possible solution could entail Eze moving to the left in place of Trossard, and restoring the captain to his central role. If so, Arsenal could begin with a team something like:
Raya
Timber Saliba Hincapié Calafiori
Zubimendi Ødegaard Rice
Saka Merino Eze
The ‘holic pound
If you want a tip on where to put your well-earned cash you may be in big trouble, but while he is on a hot streak, who could bet against Mikel Merino to score again. Or why not two or three while his boots (and head) are so hot to the touch. With all those factors considered, you may expect (pray for) this scoreline: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2.
Enjoy the game, ‘holics, near and far. Three points please!
Willow Christmas Challenge!
A message from Willow. The link is here.
GHF Predictathon Leaderboard for Matchweek 14 has been posted. Only two players didn’t change position this week. You know where to find it.
Also the Mike McDonald link C100 posted in the previous drinks should be mandatory reading.
https://gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2025/12/04/the-kings-of-the-ignored/
Now to read bt8’s Villa preview…
And another good read it is, too. Captures the essence of Villa being a form team on the up. I’ll happily take bt8’s 2-1 but i’d prefer another clean sheet, as that would be less nervous-making than sitting on a one goal lead given the capriciousness of the refereeing in the PL.
Thanks bt8, I have made the requisite offering to Dennis for
a break on the injury front. Though perhaps I should have worded
my request differently come to think of it.
I’d start Leo myself if fit as he and Merino have both been
doing fantastically well the last couple of months and give
myself the luxury of Gabi M, Eze or Ode, Noni, and Viktor to come
on if needed. 2-0 is fine with me but anything will do as ever.
Bit worried about Watkins now that he is scoring as he has
previous against us
Good preview Bt8- as you say Villa are in hot form and tge man who makes tgem play is Morgan Rogers , a real talent. We seem to reel from one in- form team to another given that the Spuds were unbeaten away, Bayern hadn’t listed all season, Chelsea were in a hot streak and Brentford were playing well. This is a tough game , one that we won 2-0 last year . A repeat would be sensational but given a lunchtime kick- off and our injury list a draw would be far from a disaster . I think a 1-1 draw is what we will achieve. Anything better and we are really cooking on gas
Cheers, bt8. Another tricky away hurdle to negotiate. Like Ned I would prefer a ‘more-than-one-goal-ahead’ clean sheet, but it’s going to be a tough sone, so can’t be too fussy and any win will do.
Blimey Ned, what’s going on with the predictathon? I’m starting to get a nosebleed…
@1 thanks for the update Ned, a bracing dram of Caol Ila
has helped me to recover from the shock at my meteoric
rise to stardom (well 3rd anyway). It’s been a rollercoaster
4 weeks funnily enough
Every few days at the moment, it seems that Arsenal are presented with the opportunity to record another ‘statement’ win. Villa Park at high noon is never an easy away venue and, on Villa’s current form, Saturday will be no exception.
A return of Big Willy would provide a huge boost and the less likely appearance of Trossard would add some high octane fuel to that boost.
I think it’s unlikely that our captain and Eze will both start, I’d go with Martinelli on the left but otherwise like the look of your team, bt8. Hopefully, in the style of Gary Cooper, Mikel Merino will be deadly on the draw leaving the bad guys lying in the dust after this duel concludes.
I’d love a win of any flavour but sense that TTG’s caution may be appropriate and the spoils may be shared.
Thanks for an enjoyable preview, bt8. I suspect that the forthcoming match may not be as pleasant. I share the cautious optimism of TTG and BtM and fear that a draw may look a reasonable achievement at the end of the day. Your team looks aa strong a selection as we can produce and if we can dominate the midfield as these three ought to be able to do then we could get the three points we crave. Any win will do.
COYG
For high-flying Ollie and OM, and indeed, all GHF Predictathon players, a bonus chart to show the average impact Matchweek 14’s results had on scores from the previous week.
A negative score means the week’s results narrowed the gap between the club’s actual position and the consensus prediction, and a positive score means the gap grew.
Thank you bt8 for such an enjoyable preview!
After this match, we would have played all but City among the most “challenging” sides away. There are no easy matches etc., but our PL schedule has been very tough until now, and it’s encouraging that we have navigated it well.
The injuries remain a concern though. It seems now Mosquera would be out for close to six weeks. He has played more than was expected of him by this stage of the season, because of other injuries I suppose but also because how seamlessly he has slotted in as a high quality defender. Hopefully the recovery is faster than the predicted six weeks.
Your starting eleven is very reasonable but I would prefer some tweaks. For one, even if Rice has fully recovered, given that he will always play full-throttle, we should give him a break. And come in for thirty odd minutes if needed. He has been extraordinary by even his own high standards, and minimizing the chances of fatigue related injuries may serve us better over the season.
Merino can take his place, and Gyökeres starts as number 9. If they play with a high line, that would be an effective combination with the latter threading passes for Viktor’s runs.
Assuming Saliba isn’t fully fit yet, my preferred line-up would be
Raya
White-Timber-Hincapié-Calafiori
Zubimendi
Ødegaard-Merino
Saka-Gyökeres-Martinelli
I will take your 2-1 away victory, especially given the great form Villa is in. But would love another 2-0 win, keeping a clean sheet and even further strengthening our defensive self-belief even when key defenders are injured.
Come on Arsenal!
Hello everyone at Goonerholic Forever central . I’ve used himselfs old email address in the reply page to log in here and hope it still works . Getting my best Christmas wishes in to you early as we had a nice day today and glasses were raised to Dave Faber and you all .
Thanks for another year of brilliant stuff . All the best and thanks .
UP THE ARSENAL
and fuck villa me da hated Birmingham 🙂
I managed to avoid a lot of the execrable programme that featured the World Cup draw. I believe World Cups are better in established football countries with local fans who know the game melding with fans of visiting countries . The 1994 World Cup was generally unmemorable but at least it wasn’t a propaganda vehicle for the American president as this one almost certainly will be . I also worry about the heat , the size of the competition and the rules on lightning which plague American sport . Arsenal could have 20 or more players in the tournament so it will be interesting to follow their fortunes but terrifying to see them risking serious injury after a very long season in such warm conditions . It is going to have a huge effect on the 26/27 season especially the opening matches . Let’s hope we negotiate that as multiple champions .
Mosquera is potentially out for six weeks.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2gn0q3093o
Seems we need three world-class players for every position. Two is just not enough.
Brendan@12: Good to see you in. The season’s greetings to you and yours. cba remains as much missed as he is fondly remembered.
Clery on Villa:
@12 Hello Brendan,
What Ned said @15 and good to see you in.
We will raise a sake cup to you and yours as well as The Guvnor
and cba on New Years Eve in Japan 🍶
Thanks Ned,
I guess Ollie and I were on the right end of the 4 or 5 teams with the biggest swings then.
And thanks for the link to the entertaining Mr Clery.
Cheers Ned! The Palace got stormed.
Cheers Brendan! Glasses to be raised in a few weeks.
Indeed TTG. I avoided it all, and shall endeavour to avoid the Trump World Cup next summer. Seeing an article yesterday about the FIFA Peace Prize or whatever it is named made me sick.
Wot Ollie said.
Ned @16, thanks for the Adam Clery link. Very informative as ever. I hope Mikel has watched that!
Thanks bt8 for an enjoyable read !
And Cheers Brendan – good to see you in again. Hope the old fella is enjoying this season from the Upper Upoer Tier ! ❤️
And thanks, Ned for your usual top work on the Predictathon 🙏🏻
Hiya Brendan. Good to see you here.
Thanks bt8 for a good preview. With the injuries situation and such a short time from the previous match team selection may be interesting. It will be a difficult game but the mentality in the squad is top notch so hoping for our unbeaten run to continue.
Good to see you drop by Brendan, I raise a glass to you and your much missed da – cheers!
Great to see Brendan in the bar above. I join many above in missing your da.
Today’s match, to my mind, is very much one where any win will do. Just win, baby.
COYG
Strong team
Arsenal: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres.
Raya
White Timber Hincapie Calafiori
Ode Zubi Rice
Saka Merino Eze
Attacking line up with Ode and Eze in there,
no Saliba but Leo back on the bench along with
Vik, Noni, Gabi M., Nwaneri, Norgaard, MLS,
Salmon and Kepa.
Pipped at the post 🙂
Strong bench too. Expect to see some impact subs. Good to see Marli Salmon getting the experience. Very talented boy.
We will have to win the centre against McGinn, Tielemans and Onana,
then get at Villa’s full backs I hope. Set pieces should give us some
chances too, though they knocked in a couple of free kicks themselves
recently…
Cheers, Brendan. Thanks for visiting and don’t be a stranger. Three points please in the name of cba, the Guvnor and all those who have graced our lives.
Big game.
Go win!
Good to see you, Brendan. As bt8 suggests, why not drop in more often?
Yer Da is fondly remembered in this company.
Playing ok about 1/2 way through the first half
Referee letting the game flow quite well and it’s an
entertaining game. Be even more entertaining if
we scored
Spoke too soon, bastard.
Not a great one to give away defensively
1-0 down at half-time, I thought we played ok really
but not incisive enough. All to play for 2nd half
I thought we were OK until about 20-30 mins. Then we seemed to lose our connections. This may be a ‘bridge too far’ for some players plus the dominance of Salbriel is missed. Sloppy from Eze for their goal. Need to change things early in the sH if not at HT.
Mikel deciding not to wait Gyokeres and Leo on
COYG!
Leo you beauty 1-1!
Saka not sent off despite Emi’s best efforts.
Going to be a nervous last 15 for me
Fuck it
That feels like a kick in the gut.
Bugger.
Running on fumes at the end.
We need more goals essentially from throughout the team. Not too worried about losing as it will fire them up but we do need a lot more fron Viktor and Eber.
And Vile are not winning the league.
Madueke may one day be a very good player. I think he has that potential. However, part of his development will require some ability to discern the best course of action when he’s been put in a super-dangerous position from which the game can be won.
Next time around, hopefully he won’t surrender the ball into the side netting from an impossible angle on his weaker foot. He’ll do what Saka would have done and turn back and either score with his left foot or lay off to a colleague.
Saka on the other hand will, no doubt, be continuing to work on his heading.
Despite missing an en emergency ward full of world-class talent, we’re still top of the league and that’s where we’re going to stay. Santa Claus is bringing Kai Havertz back for me for Christmas.
Wey Hey!
Good positive sentiments Btm. We need a sense of perspective. We’ve lost twice – once at Anfield to a Worldie free kick in the last ten minutes and here in the last minute of added time to a good Aston Villa side . Beware the prophets of doom !
Whike I’m passing- Bang!
Team for Club Brugge?
Kepa
White Calafiori Hincapie MLS
Norgaard Merino Odegaard
Madueke Gyokeres Martinelli
Calafiori is suspended for the Wolves game
Well in for the half-ton, TTG.
Bruges might not be the worst of games to have next. Nor Wolves the worst of games for Calafiori to miss due to suspension.
In a post-game interview, Gyokeres looked and sounded as if he had been run over by a bus, even though the interviewer was trying to coax positive takeaways from the game out of him. That was a tough interview to give to someone whose first language isn’t English, although, after losing to the last kick of the game, it would have been a tough interview for any of the players.
Nice 50 there TTG, self-assisting at its finest!
I am still thinking about my Bruges team but it
wouldn’t include Merino as he looks knackered!
Matt@53: BTW, as per the schedule you have the Villa review and I the Brugge preview. Just making sure there’s no misunderstanding. 🙂
Must be a tough match to write about.
Yes, that’s right Dr F. 👍
The review should be up soon as I have sent it in
>>>>>>>