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Arsenal vs Aston Villa preview: How to watch, lineups, Arteta’s future & prediction

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa shakes hands with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on November 08, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa shakes hands with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on November 08, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal vs Aston Villa Premier League preview: Is this Mikel Arteta’s final chance at success as Dean Smith’s men head to the Emirates on Friday? (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

From Monday to Friday. What have the fixture overlords got in store for us now? Fresh off the back of one Premier League outing, Arsenal are thrust into the limelight once more as they face Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Here is the preview.

The chance to sneak into the top four undetected by the rest of the division has already been tossed away. Had Arsenal have beaten Crystal Palace on Monday and followed suit against Dean Smith’s side, that’s what they would have got.

Stating such eventualities is like some dangerous and unwelcome foreshadowing. If Arsenal beat ‘X’ then they’ll move into ‘Y’. It always ends badly.

Patrick Vieira’s return to Arsenal did not end badly as Alexandre Lacazette stole a point at the death to spark some wild celebrations, the like that slowly calmed as the reality of the situation sunk in. That being that it was a point at home against the side in 14th.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa Premier League preview: Is this Mikel Arteta’s final chance at success as Dean Smith’s men head to the Emirates on Friday?

Oh, and Arsenal were awful.

Arsene Wenger always used to favour an immediate response to setbacks by playing the next game as soon as possible, which is precisely what Mikel Arteta has on his hands with just four days separating the visit of Aston Villa.

There may have been a few more reassured faces heading into this one were Monday less atrocious, but alas, it’s 12th against 13th with two sides who’ve both conceded 12 goals apiece this season. 0-0 bore draw incoming?

PTSD will kick in for this one as fans haven’t quickly forgotten the annihilation that Villa inflicted on Arsenal in that 3-0 drubbing last season, where an ever interchanging front line ran riot. The return fixture was more one-sided, but Arsenal still lost that one too.

One thing is for sure, if there is to be any hope of securing three points on Friday – which is the minimum requirement – a repeat performance from the Palace game won’t bring it. If that is the average Arsenal display this season then so too is a mid-table finish.

Arteta’s time is running out. He may be in the board’s good books, but the paying supporters who are seeing little evidence of improvement will be vocal soon enough.

What Arsenal are producing under this manager is light years away from being acceptable. Friday may be the last straw for many, if the camel’s back hasn’t already broken.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Monday 22 October
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Craig Pawson

Continued on next page…

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