ASTON VILLA NEWS

Arsenal stunned late by Aston Villa, Man City closes gap and Liverpool draws

The Premier League title race has been blown open after Arsenal conceded in stoppage time and lost at Aston Villa 2-1

DECEMBER 6 • Associated Press

Where to watch Arsenal vs. Aston Villa today free on USA Network during FuboTV, NBC dispute English Premier League leader Arsenal faces a big challenge away from home on Saturday against third-place Aston Villa at Villa Park.

DECEMBER 6 • PENNLIVE.COM

How to Watch Aston Villa vs. Arsenal on TV, Live Stream The Premier League leaders have the chance to kick off the Premier League weekend with another significant triumph when they take on Aston V...

DECEMBER 6 • SI.COM

Evann Guessand - Misses out due to injury Guessand (undisclosed) is not available for Saturday's clash against Arsenal due to injury, according to John Townley from Birmingham Live.

Impact Guessand is missing from the match squad for Saturday's clash against the Gunners since he is suffering from an undisclosed injury. The forward will likely be assessed in the coming days to know the extend of the issue, and will hope to be back available for next week's fixtures against FC Basel and West Ham United on Sunday.

DECEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Emiliano Martinez - Starting in goal Martinez (back) is in the starting XI for Saturday's clash against Arsenal.

Impact Martinez is starting in goal Saturday after managing a back issue that has required testing throughout the week. His return to the starting role is important for the club since he remains their regular in net when fit and one of the best shot stoppers at his peak.

DECEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal: Preview, Predictions and Lineups Arsenal can extend their healthy lead at the Premier League’s summit before their challengers play this weekend.

DECEMBER 6 • SI.COM

Arsenal FC vs. Aston Villa Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec 6

Preview the matchup between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa with predictions, odds, over/under, betting lines and more.

DECEMBER 5 • Data Skrive

High-flying Aston Villa and Unai Emery present latest challenge to Arsenal's title credentials

Aston Villa is the form team in the Premier League and on Saturday presents the latest test to Arsenal’s title credentials

DECEMBER 5 • Associated Press

Emiliano Martinez - Late call to face Gunners Martinez (back) is a late call for Saturday's match against Arsenal, according to manager Unai Emery. "We will train this afternoon. He didn't train yesterday, but it is very impor...

Impact Martinez is going to need some testing as he heads into Saturday's massive outing, as the goalie is still dealing with a back injury and will need some training to decide if he can play. This is something to monitor for the club, as the goalie is their regular in net when fit, at one point, one of the best in the world. However, if he were to miss out once again or is unable to start, Marco Bizot should remain the starter in net.

DECEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Morgan Rogers - Delivers assist for equalizer Rogers assisted once to go with one cross (zero accurate) and three chances created in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over Brighton.

Impact Rogers was one of Villa's best performers between the lines against the Seagulls on Wednesday, repeatedly dribbling through the defense with the ball at his feet. His standout contribution came in first half stoppage time when he spotted Ollie Watkins' run and launched the long pass that sent the striker through to equalize. He continued to link play on the break, often initiating transitions that forced Brighton backwards. Rogers is in a brilliant form, having scored two goals and delivered two assists in the last four games across competitions to go with nine chances created.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Matty Cash - Assists from corner in victory Cash assisted once to go with six crosses (two accurate) and five corners in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Brighton.

Impact Cash delivered the 60th-minute corner that Amadou Onana converted, swinging the ball into a crowd at the back post for the midfielder to attack. From right-back he offered constant overlap and width, especially once Villa were chasing the game at 2-0 down. Defensively, he had shaky moments early as Brighton's left side found space, but he recovered to contest crosses and help see out the final minutes. His set-piece quality and work rate were central to Villa's second-half pressing, highlighted by his two chances created, five corners and six crosses.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Evann Guessand - Provides assist against Brighton Guessand assisted once to go with two shots (two on goal) and one chance created in Wednesday's 4-3 victory against Brighton.

Impact Guessand struggled to impose himself in the first half against the Seagulls on Wednesday despite setting Ollie Watkins' first goal in the 37th minute. He improved after the break, attacking space on the right and then getting free in the box to power a header toward goal that Bart Verbruggen could only parry before Donyell Malen scored the rebound to give a two-goal lead for the Villians. His off-ball intensity rose noticeably in the closing stages, helping Villa defend from the front.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Donyell Malen - Scores goal off bench Malen scored one goal to go with two shots (two on goal) in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Brighton.

Impact Malen came off the bench and needed barely a minute to make his mark, arriving in the six-yard box in the 78th minute to score home after Bart Verbruggen had saved Evann Guessand's close-range header. The finish, officially his first touch, gave Villa a two-goal lead at a moment when Brighton were pressing. He continued to stretch the home defense with runs between the lines and into the left channel, forcing Brighton's backline to drop deeper. Malen started only half of his last six appearances but is in excellent form, contributing 21 shots in that span, scoring five goals and providing one assist.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Amadou Onana - Gives lead with header Onana scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal) in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Brighton.

Impact Onana put Villa ahead for the first time at the hour mark, attacking Matty Cash's in-swinging corner at the back post and outjumping Maxim De Cuyper to head in for the 3-2. He had already grown into the game as the deeper midfielder, breaking up Brightons passing lanes and winning duels in front of the back four, contributing to a season high four tackles won on four attempts, two interceptions and four clearances.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Ollie Watkins - Scores brace in victory Watkins scored two goals to go with four shots (three on goal) and two chances created in Wednesday's 4-3 win against Brighton.

Impact Watkins dragged Villa back into the game with a brace before half-time, first netting an assist from Evann Guessand to make it 2-1, then finishing calmly in stoppage time of the first half after racing onto Morgan Rogers' long pass in transition. The brace ended an 11-game goal drought across all competitions for the striker and took his tally to nine career goals against Brighton. He remained a constant threat in the frontline, contributing season highs with four shots and two chances created. Watkins proved in that performance that he could still perform at his highest level despite dealing with knee pain this campaign.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Marco Bizot - Four saves in win Bizot made four saves and allowed three goals in Wednesday's 4-3 victory versus Brighton. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 95th minute.

Impact Bizot was thrown in just before kick-off when Emiliano Martinez went down in the warm-up due to back pain. The goalie was quickly active in the game, conceding the opener in the 9th minute from a corner that Jan Paul van Hecke pushed in. He grew into the game and dealt better with crosses as Villa turned the scoreline around. His biggest moment came in stoppage time when he produced a superb reflex save to claw away Danny Welbeck's close-range header and preserve the win. Bizot is expected to remain the starter in goal for the Villains until Emiliano Martinez (back) returns from injury.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

'I can put hard times behind me' – Watkins relieved to end goal drought with Brighton brace Ollie Watkins' brace helped move Aston Villa up to third in the Premier League table after edging a seven-goal thriller away to Brighton.

DECEMBER 4 • BEINSPORTS.COM

Emiliano Martinez - Suffers back pain Martinez is suffering from back pain and couldn't play in Wednesday's 4-3 victory against Brighton, coach Unai Emery said in a press conference, according to John Townley from Birm...

Impact Martinez can't complete a normal warm-up due to back pain, and this new issue adds to the other minor problems he has dealt with already this season. The Argentine goalkeeper is now a doubt for Saturday's clash against Arsenal, and he will be replaced by Marco Bizot again between the posts if he has to miss that game as well.

DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Emiliano Martinez - Late scratch Wednesday Martinez was a late scratch ahead of Wednesday's trip to Brighton.

Impact Martinez was scratched just minutes before kick off during Wednesday's trip to Brighton. Marco Bizot returns to the starting XI in place of Martinez. Martinez has struggled with some minor injuries this season, and Bizot is a more than capable replacement.

DECEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa Prediction, Picks, Live Odds - December 3 - Bleacher Nation The upcoming fixture list in the Premier League includes fifth-place Brighton & Hove Albion hosting fourth-place Aston Villa -- both coming...

DECEMBER 3 • BLEACHERNATION.COM

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec 3

Preview the matchup between Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa with predictions, odds, over/under, betting lines and more.

DECEMBER 3 • Data Skrive

Ollie Watkins - Carefully managed due to knee pain Watkins is playing with pain to his knee and is carefully managed by the staff throughout the season, coach Unai Emery said to the media, according to the Birmingham Mail. "He's ke...

Impact Watkins has been underperforming this campaign, scoring only one goal in 18 appearances across all competitions, probably due to the knee pain he has been carrying since last year. The striker is carefully managed by the staff and doesn't always train with the team in order to work individually with the physios. His pain doesn't require any type of surgery but Watkins has to rest often in order to avoid a more serious issue. The Englishman might see limited minutes moving forward until reaching full fitness, highlighted by his two appearances off the bench in the last two games of Villa. If Watkins can't start a game, Donyell Malen now seems the likely option to lead the frontline of the Villains.

DECEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Where to Watch Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa: TV Channel, Start Time and Live Stream - Bleacher Nation Brighton & Hove Albion and Danny Welbeck have a tough matchup against Aston Villa on Wednesday. Welbeck is third in the Premier League with...

DECEMBER 2 • BLEACHERNATION.COM

'He is not OK' - Lucas Paqueta still 'suffering' from impact of FA spot-fixing investigation after seeing red for dissent

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo insists that Lucas Paqueta is still affected by the spot-fixing investigation the Football Association...

DECEMBER 2 • goal

Ross Barkley - Suffers long-term injury Barkley (undisclosed) is out for the next two to three months due to a knee injury he suffered in Sunday's 1-0 win over Wolves, according to manager Unai Emery. "Ruled out as well...

Impact Barkley came off the bench for only a mere 13 minutes Sunday before exiting the field due to injury, a rough development for the midfielder as he could miss upwards of two months out due to the knee injury. Luckily for the club, this is a minor loss, as he has yet to earn a start all season, with all eight appearances coming from the bench. However, he has already missed eight games through injury this season, now unlikely to return until February.

DECEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE