Arsenal vs Aston Villa Lineups: Result & Starting XI (Dec 2025)

Few Premier League rivalries carry the emotional weight of Arsenal vs Aston Villa, especially when Unai Emery returns to the Emirates. On 30 December 2025, the Gunners put four past their visitors in a match that underlined the gap in form between third and seventh.

Venue: Emirates Stadium (Sky Sports) ·
Kickoff: 20:15 GMT (Sky Sports) ·
Attendance: 60,279 (Sky Sports)

The pattern emerging from the data: Arsenal controlled the midfield battle, and possession translated into chances.

Who is in the Arsenal lineup vs Aston Villa?

Confirmed Arsenal starters vs Aston Villa (4-3-3)

Mikel Arteta went with a front three that raised a few eyebrows. Viktor Gyokeres started as the central striker instead of Kai Havertz, a decision that paid off with an assist and a constant threat in the box. The midfield trio of Zubimendi, Merino, and Ødegaard provided a mix of defensive cover and creative threading.

• Goalkeeper: David Raya (Last Word On Sports)
• Defenders: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Piero Hincapié (Last Word On Sports)
• Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard (C) (Last Word On Sports)
• Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Viktor Gyokeres (Last Word On Sports)

The implication: Arteta’s gamble on Gyokeres over Havertz reshaped Arsenal’s attacking dynamic.

Aston Villa confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1)

Unai Emery named a side that trusted Ollie Watkins as the lone striker and handed a start to Victor Lindelof in central defense after recent injuries.

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Last Word On Sports)
• Defenders: Bogarde, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, Lucas Digne (Last Word On Sports)
• Midfielders: Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendia (Last Word On Sports)
• Forward: Ollie Watkins (Last Word On Sports)

The pattern: Villa went with experience in midfield but lacked the pace to counter Arsenal’s quick transitions.

Who won Arsenal vs Aston Villa today?

Final score and goal scorers

Arsenal turned a tight first half into a comfortable win thanks to goals from Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus. Aston Villa’s only reply came from Ollie Watkins deep into stoppage time (Sky Sports).

• Gabriel (10′) – headed from a corner (Sky Sports)
• Martin Zubimendi (34′) – long-range strike (Sky Sports)
• Leandro Trossard (78′) – counter-attack finish (Sky Sports)
• Gabriel Jesus (89′) – tap-in after a save (Sky Sports)
• Ollie Watkins (94′) – header from a cross (Sky Sports)

The catch: Arsenal’s set-piece dominance (first goal from a corner) and their ability to strike on the break left Villa chasing the game.

What time is Arsenal vs Aston Villa today?

Kickoff time and date

The match kicked off at 20:15 GMT on Tuesday, 30 December 2025 at Emirates Stadium (Sky Sports).

TV channel and live stream options

UK viewers could watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League and stream via NOW TV. International broadcasts varied by region.

Why didn’t Arsenal get a penalty?

Incident analysis: the penalty claim

During the second half, Arsenal players appealed for a spot-kick when Leandro Trossard went down under a challenge from Bogarde inside the Villa box. Replays showed minimal contact, but Trossard’s fall was dramatic enough to draw VAR attention (Sky Sports).

Referee decision and VAR check

Referee Chris Kavanagh waved play on, and VAR checked for a clear and obvious error before confirming the on-field call. No penalty was given (Sports Illustrated). Post-match, pundit Sean Dyche suggested that the contact was too soft to overturn, but Mikel Arteta expressed frustration that the decision didn’t go his side’s way.

The implication: the non-call sparked debate about consistent threshold for penalties, especially in tight games where a goal could change the outcome.

What are the predicted lineups for Arsenal vs Aston Villa?

Expert predictions from Sky Sports and Fotmob

Pre-match, Sky Sports projected an Arsenal XI that matched the actual lineup except for the striker role, where Kai Havertz was expected to start instead of Viktor Gyokeres (Sky Sports). Sports Illustrated also predicted David Raya in goal and the same center-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel (Sports Illustrated). Fotmob’s expected Villa lineup had John McGinn in midfield rather than Onana, but Emery opted for defensive cover.

Injury updates affecting predicted XI

Ricardo Calafiori was sidelined, which led pundits to predict Myles Lewis-Skelly at left back (Sports Illustrated). In reality, Piero Hincapié started, highlighting the gap between speculation and the manager’s final call.

The pattern: predictions rarely account for late tactical shifts—Gyokeres over Havertz was a surprise that changed Arsenal’s attacking dynamic.

“We had a clear plan: press high and use the spaces behind their full-backs. The lads executed it perfectly.”

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager (Sky Sports)

“The bit of luck we needed didn’t come today. But I’m proud of the way we fought back, especially Ollie’s goal.”

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager (Sports Illustrated)

“I thought it was a penalty—Trossard was clearly clipped. But once VAR says no, you have to accept it.”

Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports pundit (Sky Sports)

The stakes for both clubs are now clear: Arsenal edge closer to the top two, while Villa risk falling behind in the European race. For Arteta, the tactical surprise of Gyokeres paid off; for Emery, the defensive reorganizing can’t come soon enough.

For a detailed breakdown of the contest, including post-match quotes and key moments, see the full match report and highlights on Filmtvuk.

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