Why Aston Villa clash offers Arsenal chance to prove they are stronger champions
Arsenal could hardly have asked for a better start to their Premier League title defence, but Monday night’s trip to Aston Villa should provide a much clearer indication of whether the champions have become even stronger.
Arsenal swept Coventry City aside 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend after previously beating Manchester City by the same scoreline in the Community Shield.
Six goals, two clean sheets and two commanding performances represent an impeccable beginning, but Villa Park presents an altogether more uncomfortable challenge.
Aston Villa were one of the teams capable of troubling Arsenal last season, most memorably beating them at Villa Park before Arsenal responded with an emphatic 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
Unai Emery has also built an impressive home record, with Villa winning six of their last seven competitive matches on their own ground.
That means their embarrassing 4-0 opening defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion should not encourage complacency.
Brighton exposed enormous defensive weaknesses, producing an impressive attacking display as Villa struggled badly without several important players who departed this summer.
Arsenal should be looking to exploit those vulnerabilities far more ruthlessly than some of the opportunities they allowed to escape against difficult opponents last season.
That is particularly important after Manchester City recorded their second consecutive victory on Friday, beating Crystal Palace 4-1 to demonstrate that they intend to push Arsenal hard for the championship.
There is little significance in the table after two matches, but Arsenal can immediately respond by collecting three points at one of the grounds where they stumbled last season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should also have a stronger squad available than he did against Coventry.
Bruno Guimaraes has returned to training after his groin problem and is potentially available, while £55 million summer signing Ezri Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against the club he left earlier this month.
Konsa’s availability is particularly valuable with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber sidelined, although Arteta may understandably resist immediately disrupting a defence that has yet to concede this season.
Villa have problems of their own, with Joao Gomes suspended following his red card at Brighton, although new signings Nicolas Jackson and Leon Goretzka could strengthen Emery’s options.
Jackson’s availability should provide Villa with a much-needed attacking threat following Ollie Watkins’ departure, making this a more difficult assignment than their opening result suggests.
Yet Arsenal should still travel to Birmingham expecting to win.
The champions were the Premier League’s best away side last season and have won their opening away league fixture in four successive campaigns.
Making that five at a hostile Villa Park would be another early statement.
Winning the title again will require Arsenal to overcome precisely these awkward hurdles, particularly against opponents who have previously demonstrated an ability to frustrate them.
Villa will undoubtedly make Arsenal work harder than Coventry did.
But with a stronger squad, confidence flowing and City already applying pressure, Monday represents an opportunity for Arteta’s side to put an old tormentor to the sword and reinforce why they remain the team everyone else must catch.
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