The Premier League title race ignites on Tuesday night as Arsenal host Aston Villa in a seismic showdown at the Emirates Stadium. With just a handful of points separating the top three, this fixture could prove pivotal in the 2025/26 campaign.
A High-Stakes Encounter for the Title Hopefuls
Unai Emery's Aston Villa arrive in North London with a point to prove. After a stuttering start to the season, they have surged up the table on the back of an astonishing 11-game winning streak across all competitions. Their dramatic comeback victory at Chelsea last Saturday cemented their place as genuine contenders, sitting third and just a win away from drawing level with their hosts.
For Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, the match is a chance for revenge and to steady their nerves. The Gunners have shown recent jitters in narrow wins over Brighton and Wolves. The memory of Villa's stoppage-time winner in the reverse fixture less than four weeks ago will be fresh in their minds, adding extra spice to this already mouthwatering clash.
How to Watch the Premier League Clash
The match kicks off at 8:15pm on Tuesday 30 December at the Emirates Stadium in London. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage begins at 6:30pm.
Subscribers can also stream the action live via the Sky Go app. If you're not a Sky customer, you can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass to gain access without a full subscription.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
Arsenal's defensive woes have deepened. Jurrien Timber missed the Brighton match after an awkward landing, and Riccardo Calafiori then suffered an injury in the warm-up. Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera remain absent, though Gabriel's return from the bench offers hope. Declan Rice may again be deployed at right-back to cover the crisis.
Aston Villa must plan without the suspended Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara, both booked against Chelsea. Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres and Ross Barkley are still injured, while Evann Guessand is at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ollie Watkins is expected to lead the line after his match-winning brace at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Odegaard, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Predicted Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Watkins.
This fixture promises to be a tactical battle between two of the league's finest managers. With the title race heating up, three points for either side could send a powerful message to their rivals as the new year approaches.
