Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE! Premier League result, match stream, latest updates today

Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE!

John McGinn's early goal led surging Aston Villa to a club-record 15th consecutive home Premier League victory on Saturday, a breathless 1-0 win over Arsenal that prevented Mikel Arteta's Gunners from reclaiming top spot in the table.

McGinn got Villa Park rocking in the seventh minute after Leon Bailey sprinted down the right wing before cutting back the ball and picking out McGinn. Villa's captain took one touch, turned sharply and fired past keeper David Raya. Arsenal thought they had equalised in added time before VAR determined Kai Havertz had handled the ball while firing it past keeper Emi Martinez from a goalmouth scramble.

Arteta, whose north London team arrived on the heels of four successive wins, was relegated to the directors' box for the game while he served a one-game ban after picking up his third red card of the season. Read the game back below with updates and expert analysis from Standard Sport's Simon Collings at Villa Park.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal latest news

• GOAL! McGinn fires home the early opener

19:36 , Alex Young

You can read Simon Collings' player ratings by clicking here.

Full-time!

19:29 , Alex Young

99min: That's 15 home wins in a row for Villa! Incredible achievement.

19:26 , Alex Young

97min: Havertz throws himself into Martinez, which is exactly what the Villa keeper wants to waste some more time. Arteta is fuming.

19:23 , Alex Young

91min: Five minutes added on.

NO GOAL!

19:22 , Alex Young

90min: The referee's decision stands.

GOA... NO...?

19:20 , Alex Young

89min: Havertz thinks he has scored but the referee rules it out for handball. But VAR are taking a look...

19:17 , Alex Young

88min: Carlos gets a booking for a reckless arm to the face of Nketiah.

19:14 , Alex Young

85min: Cash catches Zinchenko with a wild attempted challenge. Not the first time we've seen that this season.

19:11 , Alex Young

82min: Arsenal have a knack of scoring late goals this season, including just four days ago.

What have they got left in the tank tonight?

19:09 , Alex Young

80min: Jesus looks set to drive into the area as Villa lose the ball in their final third, but he takes all the time in the world to control the ball and Villa mop up.

19:08 , Alex Young

79min: Arteta cuts an unimpressed figure in the director's box.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

19:02 , Alex Young

Declan Rice trying to get his team-mates going. He wins a tackle and waves his arms. Just over 15 minutes for Arsenal to snatch something here.

19:01 , Alex Young

73min: McGinn into the book for a tough challenge on Odegaard.

18:59 , Alex Young

69min: Jesus is in acres of space inside the area but his touch is absolutely woeful and the chance breaks down.

Arteta swaps Martinelli for Trossard.

18:57 , Alex Young

68min: Superb chance for Watkins and again Diaby is instrumental, finding his team-mate about 12 yards out which Raya saves at the second attempt.

18:55 , Alex Young

66min: Double change for Villa. Cash and Dendonker replace Konsa and Kamara.

18:52 , Alex Young

63min: Luiz catches Saka on the back of the ankle and is booked for his troubles. He'll also miss the Brentford game.

18:50 , Alex Young

61min: Much better from Villa! Digne gets to run at the Arsenal defence for the first time, darts into the area and spots Digne arriving late on the other side. The left-back takes a touch and slams the ball straight at Raya.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

18:48 , Alex Young

This reminds me a bit of Spurs v Chelsea earlier this season. Villa sticking with this high line, despite being cut open time and time again.

18:48 , Alex Young

58min: Arsenal get in over the top again, Havertz finds Odegaard dead centre of the area around 18 yards out... and he sidefoots wide.

18:46 , Alex Young

57min: Almost a Martinez howler as Watkins unsights him, he flaps at the corner delivery and sends the ball back off the post. Carlos hacks clear.

18:45 , Alex Young

56min: Another change for Villa as Tielemans is replaced by Ramsey. Arsenal set to take a corner.

18:42 , Alex Young

53min: Digne is booked, so he will miss the game against Brentford.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

18:40 , Alex Young

Arsenal have got to make the most of Villa's high line. They keep getting in behind, sometimes, with one pass, but the execution is off.

18:39 , Alex Young

50min: Martinelli is down and looks in some pain after Konsa inadvertently trods on his foot. He'll be OK to continue after a bit of rolling around.

18:36 , Alex Young

47min: Big shouts for a penalty for Arsenal as Luiz catches Jesus inside the area but it looked soft. VAR agrees.

Second half

18:33 , Alex Young

46min: Right then, here we go again! And yes, Bailey off for Diaby.

18:33 , Alex Young

Sounds like Bailey - who was limping at times in the second half - may have been replaced. Diaby the most likely candidate to replace him.

18:31 , Alex Young

What can Arteta do to change this in the second half? They have been creating chances but Villa do not too tested at this stage.

Half-time!

18:19 , Alex Young

48min: A great start, a dull middle, and a promising end.

Villa lead but Arsenal have perhaps had the better chances.

18:17 , Alex Young

46min: Arsenal clear but Villa come straight back through Torres... and Zinchenko mops up.

18:16 , Alex Young

45min: Saliba, under pressure from Watkins, turns and clears the ball out for a corner. Rattled?

Simon Collings at Villa Park

18:15 , Alex Young

Emi Martinez with some sensational s***housing in this first half. Truly world class. Home fans loving it, away supporters not so much.

18:14 , Alex Young

42min: Now Jesus turns sharply to force Martinez into another decent save.

Arsenal growing in confidence as half-time approaches.

18:13 , Alex Young

41min: Up the other end, Watkins looks to broken the offside flag to darts into the area but Raya stands tall to deny him... and then the offside flag is raised.

SAVE!

18:10 , Alex Young

39min: Fantastic chance for Arsenal, even better save.

Havertz finds Jesus in the area, who does superbly to spot Odegaard for a shot... but Martinez reads it and gets down well to deny the captain.

18:08 , Alex Young

36min: Off the line (almost)! Martinelli runs through onto Gabriel's smart ball over the top and lobs the onrushing Martinez, but the effort is too high and Carlos is able to run back and boot clear about two yards in front of the line.

Simon Collings at Villa Park

18:05 , Alex Young

Arsenal will get chances here. Villa's high and demand to play out from the back will ensure that, but they need to far better in the final third. Sloppy.

18:03 , Alex Young

31min: Finally Saka gets a yard of space on the edge of the area, jinks onto his left and curls a shot straight at Martinez.

A first shot on target for Arsenal.

18:02 , Alex Young

30min: Saka tries to feed White into the area to whip a ball across the face of goal, but the Uber-tanned defender is offside.

17:57 , Alex Young

26min: This hasn't been the thriller we were quite expecting. Villa seem in relative control and Arsenal are struggling to build up some steam.

17:54 , Alex Young

23min: They take their sweet time... and then Digne thwacks the ball into the wall.

17:53 , Alex Young

21min: Tielemans picks up the ball around 25 yards out and just waits for Havertz to foul him, which he duly does. Free kick time.

17:50 , Alex Young

19min: Emery is seem grimacing and shaking his head on the touchline. Not sure what he isn't liking the look of, but Arsenal are having more luck with their press at the moment.

17:48 , Alex Young

17min: Better from Arsenal as the win the ball in the final third and Saka takes it into the area but his shot is straight at Torres.

White picks up the rebound and either tries to cross or goes to lob the keeper. Neither work.

17:47 , Alex Young

16min: Villa are not in any rush to press Arsenal, it must be said. They look calm and in control.

17:45 , Alex Young

14min: Martinelli tries to send Saka down the right but it's a good five yards ahead of him.

17:44 , Alex Young

13min: Arsenal not quite clicking at the moment. Stray passes and the like.

Villa forcing them into errors.

17:42 , Alex Young

10min: Villa are very pumped tonight. The stadium is roaring and the players are throwing themselves into tackles.

GOAL!

17:39 , Alex Young

7min: So easy! Bailey does brilliantly down the right, Zinchenko doesn't know where he is, White is turned and McGinn fires in on the turn!

17:37 , Alex Young

6min: Chance! Saka sends the ball across the pitch for Martinelli, who jinks into the area and finds Saka at the back post but the ball is a metre in front.

17:34 , Alex Young

3min: It comes to nothing but Villa looked to target Raya then, so many bodies around him.

17:32 , Alex Young

2min: Arsenal get into the Villa box through Martinelli but Konsa is able to clear. Villa head up the other end through Bailey and win a corner.

End to end.

Kick-off!

17:30 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go!

17:27 , Alex Young

Here come the teams!

Simon Collings at Villa Park

17:22 , Alex Young

A reminder: no Mikel Arteta on the touchline today. His plan yesterday was to sit in the directors' box, but given he can't ever stand still during a game, that should be interesting.

17:19 , Alex Young

"If Arsenal win tonight, they will be my title favourites," says Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports.

You can't argue too much with that.

17:11 , Alex Young

Mikel Arteta lost his first three games against Aston Villa as Arsenal manager, but has won the next four in a row.

The Gunners ran out 4-2 winners at Villa Park in February, with Saka, Zinchenko and Martinelli on the scoresheet - and an Emi Martinez own goal. Those three start for Arsenal today.

Emery on time at Arsenal

16:58 , Alex Young

“Firstly, experiences. I took experiences with my past in different countries and leagues. I had experiences with Arsenal in the Premier League and it was very important. My process as well as a coach is to try and always learn with the players I have and with the coaches working with me.

“Always I am trying to get the best professionals around me to try and add me more things with their point of view. The experiences I am having with everything is the most important thing to approach the past and the future.”

16:48 , Alex Young

This will be simple to run through. Aston Villa, chasing s a club record 15 home league wins on the trot, are unchanged from the win over Manchester City.

It's one change for Arsenal, looking for the win needed to take them back into top spot, as the experience of Oleksandr Zinchenko is preferred to Jakub Kiwior.

Teams in full

16:43 , Alex Young

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins

Subs: Cash, Alex Moreno, Lenglet, Diaby, Zaniolo, Duran, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Marschall

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli

Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Kiwior, Cedric, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Walters

Aston Villa XI

16:36 , Alex Young

...and the hosts!

Arsenal XI

16:32 , Alex Young

Here's how the Gunners look.

16:23 , Alex Young

Team news is imminent. Will Arteta make changes? Jorginho in for Havertz, perhaps.

Match odds

16:18 , Alex Young

The bookies are backing Arsenal to end Aston Villa's winning run.

• Aston Villa to win: 12/5

• Draw: 13/5

• Arsenal to win: 1/1

Odds subject to change.

Arteta on Emery

16:10 , Alex Young

"They are going to be a tough opponent and it is one of my favourite grounds... (It's) no surprise. I have followed him since he was coach of Almeria and what he has done at every team is remarkable.

"He has always improved the players, the team and the club. He is Basque like I am. I really admire him. I am really happy for him."

Emery on Aston Villa aims

16:00 , Alex Young

"[Qualifying for the Champions League] of course is a big motivation for us. Every place now is important for us.

"We can wait until match 30 or 32 in case we are in the top four in that moment, then maybe we can think we are contenders to be there.

"Now, we have to be happy and we have to be focused. The match on Wednesday is finished and we enjoyed that moment with our supporters in Villa Park, but now we have to focus 100 per cent on the match.

"Again, it's a big challenge and a great moment but we're very focused on our professional work [tonight]."

Why Arteta is not on the touchline tonight

15:50 , Alex Young

Arteta was shown his third yellow card of the season while celebrating Declan Rice’s late winner at Luton on Tuesday, leading an automatic touchline ban.

He will instead watch on from the directors’ box at Villa Park and joked on Friday: “They will play better and they will be more positive, and I can influence with my positive mind towards them.”

Assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg will take charge from the touchline in Arteta’s place.

Emery broke Arsenal but is now proving why Aston Villa is perfect fit

15:41 , Alex Young

Unai Emery has worked wonders at Aston Villa and unified the club - but Arsenal were broken by the end of the manager's time there.

The Spaniard was appointed ahead of Mikel Arteta in 2018 to be the man to replace Arsene Wenger. He lasted just 18 months and the feeling towards Emery from Arsenal supporters by that point was not so much anger, but apathy.

Fans showed their feelings with their feet and for the Spaniard’s final game in charge against Eintracht Frankfurt in November 2019, they stayed away. Officially 49,419 tickets were sold, but in truth it was probably the lowest attendance in the history of the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal had actually decided to sack Emery before that game, with the club’s hierarchy already in the USA for a meeting with owners, the Kroenke family, that week. Emery was a dead man walking and the Emirates was lifeless.

The atmosphere that night against Frankfurt will be in stark contrast to what awaits Arsenal when they travel to Villa Park tonight.

Emery has transformed Villa to the extent that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola labelled them title contenders after they beat his side 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Victory over Arsenal this weekend would put Villa just one point behind the Gunners and extend their winning run at home in the Premier League to 15 matches.

Read more here!

Score prediction

15:30 , Alex Young

Villa continue to pass every test at home with flying colours, but Arsenal go into this match on a high too after their dramatic win over Luton.

The Gunners have been incredibly controlled for much of the season, but they were somewhat ragged at the back at Kenilworth Road and any repeat of that here will surely see them punished by Emery's in-form side.

For all they have won every League match at home this season, Villa have only kept two clean sheets, and so it would be no surprise if we get goals at both ends. Neither side would be too disappointed should the points be shared.

Draw, 2-2.

Arsenal team news

15:24 , Alex Young

Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is set to miss up to six weeks with a calf injury. Ben White can be expected to continue at right-back, while Oleksandr Zinchenko could return at left-back having been on the bench as Jakub Kiwior started against Luton.

There are otherwise not believed to be any fresh injury concerns for the Gunners, with Thomas Partey not expected back before Christmas and Jurrien Timber among the long-term absentees

Kai Havertz will hope to keep his place in midfield, having scored three goals in his last four matches. Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira remain out.

Aston Villa team news

15:13 , Alex Young

Unai Emery may opt to make changes for Aston Villa's fourth game in 10 days.

Leon Bailey started and scored against Manchester City so should keep his place, though Moussa Diaby will have other ideas after being named on the bench against the champions.

Matty Cash was also overlooked and could come back in.

Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings (both knee) are out while Bertrand Traore is struggling with a muscle issue.

How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal

15:06 , Alex Young

-TV channel: In the UK, today's game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning at 5pm GMT ahead of a 5:30pm kick-off.

Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

Welcome

15:00 , Alex Young

Good afternoon and welcome to the Standard's LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

This is all primed to be a corker, with Villa looking to win their 15th home league game in a row (after beating Manchester City in the week) and the Gunners needing to win to jump back into top spot above Liverpool.

Can Unai Emery falter his former club's title ambitions? Or will the Gunners give their former manager a rare L at home?

Kick-off is at 5.30pm. Stick with us.