Taking on the most recent team to conquer them at Villa Park in the Premier League, Aston Villa host table-topping Arsenal in Saturday’s mouthwatering West Midlands affair.
Both clubs marched to dramatic one-goal successes in midweek, as Unai Emery‘s crop bested Manchester City 1-0, while the Gunners produced one of their trademark late comebacks in a pulsating 4-3 beating of Luton Town.
Two months ago, Arsenal overcame a Rodri-less City 1-0 thanks to a deflected second-half winner, and ex-Gunners head coach Emery appeared to take several leaves out of the Gunners’ book when the treble winners stepped foot onto the Villa Park turf on Wednesday evening.
Emery had gone 13 managerial meetings without getting one over Pep Guardiola, but the latter’s side were dominated in all facets of the game – besides the possession counter – and the hosts would not be left to rue a plethora of missed chances, as Bailey’s strike took a significant nick off of Ruben Dias and nestled into the net.
Bailey’s exertions caught up to him as he trudged off the field looking a little bit worse for wear, and it remains to be seen if the Jamaica international is risked from the first whistle versus the league leaders.
Thankfully for Emery, the Spaniard can call upon a fearsome like-for-like replacement in Moussa Diaby – a former transfer target of Arsenal’s – but Bertrand Traore (muscle), Emiliano Buendia (knee) and Tyrone Mings (knee) will not be available for Saturday.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
