Arsenal continued their 100 percent start to the season and retained their spot atop the Premier League table with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Fulham on Saturday.
The Gunners conceded the opening goal early in the second half when center back Gabriel Magalhães was caught in possession by Aleksandar Mitrović, who made no mistake with a low finish past Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal responded to the adversity, however, as Martin Ødegaard’s deflected strike leveled the scoring with 26 minutes remaining.
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Magalhães then atoned for his earlier error by reacting quickly to finish from close range after a goalmouth scramble following a Gabriel Martinelli corner kick.
The Gunners will look to make it five wins out of five on Wednesday when they host 15th-placed Aston Villa. Steven Gerrard’s side suffered a 1-0 home defeat on Sunday at the hands of West Ham United, who had lost their first three matches of the campaign and failed to score in the process.
Let’s use all of this information to examine Arsenal vs Aston Villa best bets.
John Arlia's 2022-23 EPL Betting Record: 7-5-0, +1.59 units
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Odds
- 3-Way Handicap: Arsenal -225 | Aston Villa +625 | Draw +350
- Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (-145) / Under 2.5 (+105)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (-110) / No (-125)
- 2-Way Handicap: Arsenal -1.5 (+115) / Aston Villa +1.5 (-185)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa odds are current as of Monday, Aug. 29 at 8:50 a.m. ET on BetMGM Sportsbook.
As the only team in the Premier League to win each of their first four matches, it is no surprise to see Arsenal listed as a heavy home favorite here.
The Gunners have had a reasonably easy schedule to start the season, but have navigated it to perfection thus far and put in some strong performances.
Each of Arsenal’s last three matches has seen three or more goals, so it also makes sense that the Over is a bit juiced up at 2.5 goals.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Betting Tips
Arsenal’s squad depth will be the difference
Schedule congestion can always be a tricky thing for managers to navigate, but it will be even more so this year as the fixtures start to pile up ahead of the winter World Cup in Qatar.
This is the first midweek match of the EPL season for both squads, but Villa did play last Tuesday in Round 2 of the EFL Cup. Meanwhile, Arsenal had a bye into the third round.
The team from Birmingham will also have one less day’s rest heading into this match, which could play a factor when they are forced to chase the ball for long periods. Villa doesn’t have enough depth to match Arsenal, which could rotate their squad a bit ahead of a weekend trip to Manchester United.
The Gunners made due without midfielder Thomas Partey (thigh) and the versatile Alex Zinchenko (knee) in the victory over Fulham, and manager Mikel Arteta could look to get reserves like Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, and Eddie Nketiah some playing time in a favorable matchup.
Gunners will be Villans' toughest test yet
A lot of pundits have pointed to Arsenal’s schedule as the reason for their strong start, but you still have to beat the teams in front of you.
Aston Villa have arguably had an easier fixture list to this point, but they’ve got just three points to show from their opening four matches.
A 2-0 loss at Bournemouth on the opening weekend will have been particularly worrisome to Gerrard and the Villa fan base, especially given the beatings the Cherries have taken since then.
There is an undeniable gulf in class between these two clubs, which are heading in opposite directions. Villa will need to improve in order to steer clear of a relegation battle, while Arsenal look likely to compete for a top-four spot and maybe more this season.
Sensational Saliba set to continue strong start for Arsenal
It’s hard to ignore William Saliba’s growing presence at Arsenal. The 21-year-old has quickly become an integral part of the squad and a fan favorite.
If you’ve watched any Arsenal game with the sound on this season, you surely will have heard the chant of Saliba’s name to the tune of Tequila by The Champs pouring through the broadcast. There’s no denying that the adoration is justified.
The Frenchman is a commanding figure in the heart of the defense, but is an equally cool and composed customer in the tackle and on the ball. Saliba has contributed to a pair of early-season clean sheets, while also scoring a goal and providing the assist (albeit unknowingly) to Gabriel’s winner against Fulham.
He can handle any physical challenge, as he has the last two weeks against Mitrović and Kieffer Moore. However, he is equally good at reading the play, covering for his teammates, and preventing teams from getting in behind.
Ollie Watkins will be the main threat on Wednesday, but I’m expecting Saliba and co. to limit a Villa attack that has mustered just three goals in four matches.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa
Arsenal trailed in a match for the first time this season last weekend against Fulham, but they overcame the adversity and rallied back to get all three points. There’s a different character and spirit in this team, which may not have gotten that result in previous years.
I don’t expect Villa to cause the Gunners much of a problem here. There is a chance that Arsenal could lose some of their early-season mojo if Arteta shuffles the squad, but I trust in their depth and quality to continue this winning run.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa Best Bets
➕ Arsenal -1.5 (+115) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Villans have lost their opening two away matches of the season by a two-goal margin — a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and the aforementioned 2-0 loss at Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have already beaten both Bournemouth and Palace by multiple goals away from home.
The Gunners will drop points eventually, but I’m expecting another strong performance here against a Villa side that looks a bit vulnerable at the moment.
While the Arsenal moneyline (-225) is a safer option, I feel good about getting a multi-goal victory at plus-money odds.
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➕Arsenal to Win to Nil (+135) at BetMGM
WAGER: 1 Unit
I don’t see how Aston Villa scores here. The Gunners will be disappointed after conceding such a silly goal against Fulham and will look to prioritize that precious clean sheet.
Arsenal should have control of possession for long stretches, which will make them susceptible on the occasional counter attack. Villa have pacey players in Watkins and Leon Bailey to trouble Saliba and co., but the visitors rank near the bottom of the league in shots on target (3.5 per game) and big chances created (4 total) thus far.
The Gunners have done well to dominate the run of play against mediocre opposition and I think they will see this one over the line without conceding.
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