Premier League: All eyes on Villa Park for Emery derby

Sunday provides arguably the pick of the weekend’s fixtures in the Premier League, as Aston Villa boss Unai Emery goes up against his former club Arsenal at Villa Park.

After a tough spell at the Emirates following the departure of iconic manager Arsene Wenger, Emery has been earning rave reviews with his efforts at Villa.

Taking the Villans from strugglers near the bottom of the ladder, to a side that will be playing Champions League football this season, Emery deserves the plaudits he’s been receiving.

Sunday provides a great test to see how Villa are shaping up this term and if they can go toe-to-toe with an Arsenal side that have Premier League title aspirations once again.

. What: Aston Villa v Arsenal
. Where: Villa Park, Birmingham
. When: 02:30 (AEST), Sunday 25th August
. How to watch: Optus Sport
. Odds: Aston Villa 4.33, Arsenal 1.75

Villa crushed Gunners’ title hopes last season

Winning both of their Premier League meetings last term, Villa had a significant impact on Arsenal's failure to win the title.

A 1-0 win at Villa Park, followed by a 2-0 victory at the Emirates saw the Villans complete the double against an Arsenal side that finished just two points behind Premier League champions Manchester City.

Villa will be hoping to make it three wins on the spin against the Gunners and they are 4.33 to do just that at Villa Park on Sunday morning.

Right-back Matty Cash was forced off in Villa’s win over West Ham United on the opening weekend but the defender is expected to be available for the weekend.

Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings remain out on the sidelines with long-term knee injuries.

Arsenal looking for revenge

After the events of last season, revenge might well be the motivation for Mikel Arteta and his side ahead of Sunday’s showdown in the West Midlands.

Looking back at the last nine meetings between these sides, Arsenal have won four to Aston Villa’s five.

Remarkably, this fixture has not produced a single draw in the last 18 meeting between these sides in all competitions.

That wait to end and a stalemate to be played out on Sunday is available at 3.80, while the Gunners to head back to north London with all three points is available at 1.75.

Arsenal boss Arteta will have to do without fullback duo of Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) for the weekend.

Kai Havertz has not scored or assisted a goal in his seven previous Premier League meetings with Villa.

The Germany international is 3.25 to break that run and score anytime on Sunday, while the former Chelsea star is 7.50 to bag the opening goal of the game at Villa Park.

In 11 of the last 15 meetings between these sides, a bet on both teams not to score would have landed.

In what could be another cagey encounter, both teams not to get on the scoresheet again is available at 2.10.