Aston Villa vs Arsenal - Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Mikel Arteta's side aim to overturn crucial result in last year's title race against former Gunners boss

Arsenal have a near-perfect record in the Premier League in 2024.

They have played 19 matches, winning 17 of them and drawing one other.

So, who was their one loss to?

You guessed it, Aston Villa. The Birmingham-based side are the only blemish on their record.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Bukayo Saka has won a lot of games in the red of Arsenal.

In fact, the winger has won 99 of his 171 Premier League games with the Gunners.

A victory today will make him the fourth player to reach 100 wins in the competition before turning 23 years of age.

The only other players to have done that are Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, and Phil Foden.

Not bad company, eh?

He has to get the job done first, though.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

I am a very jealous man, right now.

Sat in London, I am currently looking at grey skies and it's been chucking it down all day.

Then I see these photos where the sun is out in Birmingham and fans are wearing shorts.

England is a funny place...

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, speaking on Friday:

Unai Emery is back up against his old side once again.

It's pretty common knowledge that Emery's reign at the Gunners did not go as planned and he was pushed out the door.

Mikel Arteta then came in and the rest is history.

But Emery didn't show his true potential in north London, he is a truly brilliant manager.

The Spaniard has proved that since and Arsenal have been on the end of that a few times already while he has been at Aston Villa.

He loves beating the Gunners and is not shy of hiding it.

Tom Collomosse, Mail Sport, at Villa Park:

Arsenal are usually pretty good on the road, aren't they?

Well, if you don't think they are, I am about to prove you wrong.

The Gunners have won eight of their nine Premier League away games so far in 2024, drawing the other.

In those fixtures they have netted 28 goals, conceding three, and keeping seven clean sheets.

That was last season, though. Can they keep up that run?

It's a massive day for Jurrien Timber at the back.

The Dutchman had a nightmare campaign last season, he missed the majority of it due to injury.

Timber has not started a Premier League match since the opening day of the 2023-24 season.

Well, now he's back in from the start again.

Unai Emery is sticking to his guns.

Aston Villa opened the season with a win away at West Ham and the team that started that match get the nod today.

Ollie Watkins seemed a bit rusty last week, but despite Jhon Duran's winner at the London Stadium, he keeps his spot.

Happy, Villa fans?

Just the one change for Arsenal then.

And it's not Riccardo Calafiori coming in, he must just be a smiley man, it's Jurrien Timber who starts at left-back.

Other than that, it's not surprising that Mikel Arteta has decided to stick with the side that got the job done last week.

A strong side.

We are just minutes away from knowing the teams.

Arsenal have arrived at Villa Park and a certain Riccardo Calafiori looks a very happy man.

Is this a sign? Will he be starting today?

We will let you know in just a few moments...

Arsenal will simply not want to slip up today.

Yes, it's only the second game of the season, but every point counts when you are in a title race.

We don't definitely know that Arsenal are this year, but let's be honest, we expect them to battle Manchester City for England's top prize.

They started the season with a comfortable win over Wolves last week. It's fair to say they looked in fine fettle.

But this week poses a different challenge. As they know best, Aston Villa are no pushover.

Securing three points today would be huge for Mikel Arteta.

If last season was a pantomime, the second match between Arsenal and Aston Villa would have had fans screaming 'He's behind you!'.

It felt very much like that when Villa destroyed the Gunners' title hopes with a 2-0 win at the Emirates.

I covered the match, and in the first half, it just looked like it would be a formality for Arsenal. It ended up being far from that.

Unai Emery's Villa seem to have Arsenal's number, they didn't even concede to them last campaign.

Can they cause them more pain today?

What a way to finish an already cracking Saturday.

Two of the best teams doing battle this early on in the season is always a treat. I simply can't wait.

Arsenal swept aside so many teams in their battle with Manchester City for glory last season, but not Aston Villa.

The Villans did the double over the Gunners, derailing their title charge. Arsenal will not have forgotten that.

They will be looking for revenge today, that's for sure. But after both getting off to winning starts last weekend, it's a tough battle to call.

It's going to be a blast, so let's get this show on the road.