Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Gunners look to return to the top of the table and capitalise on Liverpool defeat

Wow, Diego Carlos was moving there.

Kai Havertz looks like he is free and bearing down on goal, but Carlos tracks him down and puts the ball out for a corner.

That was mightily impressive, although, Havertz isn’t blessed with pace.

Aston Villa haven’t managed to get forward much, but they just made a little foray towards the Arsenal goal.

However, it ends up with a cross going out for a goal-kick.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Emirates Stadium:

Unai Emery looks rather like he used during those 18 months spent in the dug-out 20 yards to his left. Stressed…

The home side are starting to ramp up the pressure even more.

This time Gabriel Jesus sees an effort blocked, Aston Villa are doing really well here to keep it at 0-0.

Surely they won’t keep this level of defence up for a full 90 minutes, although Crystal Palace managed it at Anfield…

Xabi Alonso, is that you?

Oleksandr Zinchenko spots Emi Martinez off his line and goes for the unimaginable.

I’ll put it as nicely as I can, he should not ever try that again.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Emirates Stadium:

Kai Havertz causing the Villa defence problems with his movement already. Nobody seems to know whether to go with him when he drops in to that pocket between the back four and the midfield.

On Arsenal’s right, however, Bukayo Saka already looks to have the beating of Villa left-back Lucas Digne. He just needs his quality of cross to be better.

Martin Odegaard again, so beautiful.

The Arsenal captain plays the exact pass to Bukayo Saka that I was on about earlier and this time Saka sends his effort into the side netting.

That was lovely football from Arsenal.

Oh, Gabriel Jesus, you have to do better there.

Bukayo Saka floats a lovely ball to the back post and Jesus meets it, but he can only find the side netting with his head.

The Brazilian has to put that right back across the keeper, and it would be 1-0.

The offside flag spares Kai Havertz’s blushes.

Havertz is set free by a ball over the top but looks like he is running through mud and is caught by three Aston Villa defenders before being foiled by Emi Martinez.

The flag then went up, although, it was tight…

Uh oh, Bukayo Saka looks like he is in some discomfort.

The Arsenal winger is holding his hip and that’s because Morgan Rogers went charging into the England international.

Aston Villa’s number 27 has been booked for the challenge.

Gunners fans will be hoping Saka can shake that off.

Strong save by former gunner, Emi Martinez.

Leandro Trossard cuts in and the slides in Kai Havertz, but he can only find the gloves of Martinez with a powerful strike.

Arsenal have started well here, they look like they mean business.

Arsenal are starting to get going here.

Bukayo Saka fires a ferocious cross into the area, but it flies past Kai Havertz too quickly and he can’t react.

It really did wizz past him.

Martin Odegaard’s passing is a sight to behold.

The Arsenal captain is a maestro and he feeds Bukayo Saka with a defence-splitting pass, but Saka’s cross is then blocked.

The combination of Odegaard and Saka is crucial to the way Arsenal play, and will be again today.

Aston Villa have started on the front foot and John McGinn has just wellied an effort into the face of Leandro Trossard.

He certainly felt that, I did too and I was just watching.

Ian Ladyman is right, you can feel the nerves inside the Emirates.

Arsenal will want to get off to a quick start and we are now underway.

This is set to be a cracker.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Emirates Stadium:

There were a few shouts and fist pumps among Arsenal staff in the media room at the Emirates when the whistle blew on Liverpool’s home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Arsenal’s job now is to ensure that a two-horse race doesn’t become a procession for Manchester City.

I have to say the Emirates isn’t sounding quite as excitable as I expected. Like every team at this stage of the season, an early goal may be needed to settle some nerves…

This game now feels bigger than before after the Liverpool result.

The atmosphere is tense but loud, and expectations are high at the Emirates.

Will they be cheering with regularity today, or will Aston Villa take another step toward Champions League football.

Despite the slightly frustrating draw in midweek against Bayern Munich, Arsenal have been in sensational form since the turn of the year, winning 10 of their 11 league games.

They’ve conceded just four goals in that time in what is an astonishing record, with the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White in inspired form.

And what a huge opportunity for the Gunners to return to the top of the Premier League this afternoon.

Did anybody see that coming,I certainly did it.

I wonder if the Arsenal players will have seen this result, will it affect them out on the pitch? I doubt it.

I big chance for the Gunners to tighten their grip on this title race.

It was a frustrating evening for Arsenal last time these sides met, with John McGinn’s goal the difference before Kai Havertz had a late equaliser disallowed.

The victory for Villa came in the midst of their stunning run of 15 home wins in a row.

They’ll be hoping for a replica of that performance at the Emirates today and you can catch up on highlights from the clash at Villa Park below.

One man missing today for Aston Villa is Douglas Luiz, with the Brazilian midfielder suspended.

He’s been integral in Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery and this week he sat down with Mail Sport’s IAN LADYMAN for a fascinating interview.

Luiz’s journey from the favelas to international football was discussed, plus his relationship with superstar women’s footballer Alisha Lehmann and his experiences working with both Emery and Pep Guardiola.

Read the brilliant piece below…

There’s sure to be plenty more twists and turns to come in the title race, but one of the shocks of the season is currently unfolding at Anfield.

Liverpool hadn’t lost at home since February 2023 before their dismal 3-0 defeat by Atalanta on Thursday, but they could be about to lose two home matches in a row.

The Reds trail Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to Eberechi Eze’s early goal and would lose vital ground in the title race with a defeat.

You can follow full coverage of the final stages of that crunch clash below…

A slight delay from Arsenal’s social media team in announcing their line-up, but here we are.

It’s three changes from Mikel Arteta after their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in midweek, with Zinchenko, Trossard and Jesus replacing Kiwior, Martinelli and Jorginho.

The Gunners will be desperate to get back to the top of the league after Man City hammered Luton 5-1 yesterday.

Unai Emery makes two changes from the side that beat Lille in the Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Douglas Luiz is suspended, so Nicolo Zaniolo is rewarded with a rare start.

Meanwhile, Moussa Diaby replaces Leon Bailey, who drops to the bench.

Former Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez will be hoping to make his former club pay today.

Arsenal are out to prove a point today after Emery’s men got the better of the Gunners when these two sides last met in December.

The Villains – enjoying a real hot streak of results at the time – won 1-0 courtesy of a very well worked team move finished by John McGinn.

Will it be revenge or repeat this time around?

Villa seem to be in a bullish mood ahead of their trip to London, at least according to winger Morgan Rogers.

Before the game, he was asked about his side’s chances against the title contenders, before referencing their 1-0 win over them at Villa Park earlier in the campaign.

Read the full story below.

We’ve got a huge clash in the title race coming up for you at the Emirates in a game that also has massive ramifications for the top four race.

It should be an intriguing and entertaining one in north London as Mikel Arteta welcomes his Arsenal predecessor Unai Emery looking for a third league win in a row.

Villa, meanwhile, have stuttered a little bit in their quest to reach Europe’s elite after losing 4-1 to Man City before a 3-3 draw to Brentford, but they will take confidence from top four rivals Tottenham being thrashed 4-0 by Newcastle yesterday.

Tune in and follow our live blog for all the latest updates, team news and goals as they happen.