English football is holding its breath. Tuesday evening at 20:15, the Emirates Stadium hosts what could be the match of the year: Premier League leaders Arsenal against a transformed Aston Villa.
Three points. That's all that separates the Gunners from the Villans in the standings. A Villa win would see both clubs level at the summit.
The wound is still fresh
Just 24 days ago, Arsenal left Villa Park with the bitter taste of a last-gasp defeat. Emi Buendia had driven a knife through Gunners hearts in the 95th minute. Since then, Mikel Arteta has been plotting his revenge.
"We'll watch it back, I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better," the Spanish tactician admitted in his press conference. "It was quite cruel the way we lost it, but yeah, we learned from it."
Still, no room for self-pity. Arsenal have strung together five consecutive victories across all competitions. Against Brighton on Saturday, the Gunners secured a 2-1 win that should have been more comfortable. Martin Ødegaard found the net, and spirits remain high despite a treatment room that refuses to empty.
Villa's winning machine rolls on
On the other side, Aston Villa are living a fairytale. Eleven straight wins across all competitions. A club record that equals the mark set in 1914. History doesn't get much better than this.
Last Saturday, Unai Emery's men were trailing at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were dominant. Then magic happened. A triple substitution on the hour mark, and everything changed. Ollie Watkins came off the bench to bag a brace, delivering an improbable 2-1 comeback victory.
"He's a tactical genius, let me say that," Watkins declared after the match, still visibly moved. "Chelsea were going man for man, but they had the extra centre-back when we were going long. When I came on in the second half, he brought Sancho and Morgan Rogers on the wing, put Youri Tielemans in the number 10 – so we had an extra man in there."
Emery plays the humble card
Yet despite this dazzling form, Unai Emery refuses to get carried away. The former Arsenal manager knows the Premier League's pitfalls all too well.
"Talking about the title does not make sense for us now, in December," he stated yesterday. "Tuesday is probably the most difficult challenge we can face because they are the best team. They are playing fantastic, they are competing fantastic."
Asked more directly about Villa's title chances, his answer was blunt: "Not really. I'm feeling that we are competing for Europe, not competing in the league with Manchester City and Arsenal."
A humble stance, or an attempt to shift pressure onto his former club? Hard to tell.
More than three points at stake
For Arsenal, this match represents far more than a routine fixture. The Gunners haven't lifted the Premier League trophy since 2004. Twenty-two years of drought. The pressure is immense.
Arteta prefers to see the glass half full: "We have a really tough match. We know their level, what they are doing, but it's a beautiful game as well to prepare and play. They merit to be there. Look at what they are doing and how consistent they've been."
The Spaniard knows his former colleague poses a serious threat. Since Emery was sacked by Arsenal in 2019, the two have faced off eight times. Record: just two wins for Arteta.
Who takes the pitch?
On Arsenal's side, absences weigh heavily. Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera are unavailable. Jurriën Timber remains a doubt, which could force Declan Rice into a makeshift defensive role, just as he did against Brighton. Gabriel should start after returning from injury.
For Villa, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are suspended. Pau Torres is also sidelined. But with a squad riding high on confidence, Emery has enough options to field a competitive team.
Kick-off is at 20:15 GMT. And one thing is certain: tonight's winner takes a major step towards the title.
