Arsenal will aim to uphold their position as the Premier League leaders when they take on Aston Villa on December 30 at the Emirates Stadium. This matchup follows a prior contest this month at Villa Park, where Emi Buendía secured a late victory for Villa with a stoppage-time goal, resulting in a 2-1 win for the hosts. Arsenal currently sits two points ahead of Manchester City, while Aston Villa trails three points behind them. A victory for Villa could level the points at the top of the table.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET. According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, Arsenal is favored at -240 (bet $240 to win $100) while Aston Villa is the underdog at +650. A draw is set at +380, and the total goals line is at 2.5 (Over -140, Under +110). For more details on the latest projections for this match, visit SportsLine.

Martin Green, a seasoned professional sports writer and betting expert, shares insights into the game. His track record includes successful bets across various competitions. For further details on his predictions, follow along through SportsLine.

Best Bets

• Both teams to score (+110): 1 unit
• Arsenal to win and Over 2.5 goals (+130): 0.5 units
• Morgan Rogers Over 0.5 shots on goal (+110): 0.5 units

Aston Villa is looking to extend their current winning streak to 12 matches. Unai Emery’s squad is currently third in the Premier League standings, following their recent 2-1 victory against Chelsea. This win positioned them three points behind Arsenal and one behind Manchester City.

With a recent surge in performance, including eight straight Premier League wins, Villa has achieved significant victories over tough opponents such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United this season. Although they face the challenge of playing against Arsenal, who boast an unbeaten home record, both sides are set for an intense match.

Defensive Struggles for Arsenal

Arsenal seeks revenge after their last defeat against Villa on December 6. At that time, they dealt with significant defensive issues, missing key players like William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães due to injury. With Saliba’s return and Gabriel potentially starting, this could strengthen Arsenal’s defense.

However, ongoing issues persist as they still miss players like Christhian Mosquera and Ben White, which has led to makeshift defensive lineups. Despite a strong start to the season defensively, Arsenal has recently struggled, allowing eight goals in the last eight games.

Success of Morgan Rogers for Villa

Morgan Rogers has been outstanding recently with six goals in his last seven matches. His recent contributions included pivotal goals against West Ham and Manchester United. His performance alongside Ollie Watkins is expected to put pressure on Arsenal’s reshuffled defense while pushing for goals against a side that has shown vulnerability in recent games.

With prevailing strengths and weaknesses on both sides, betting on both teams to score seems viable, reflecting the close nature of this upcoming match.