Andy Schooler previews ‘Monday Night Football’ Premier League clash between Aston Villa and champions Arsenal. Read his best bets exclusively for kwiff.
Monday Night Football: Aston Villa v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Date/Time: Monday August 31, 2000 BST
TV: Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event
These two sides got off to somewhat contrasting starts last weekend. Arsenal started with the expected, routine victory over newly promoted Coventry, while Villa were humiliated in the first half at Brighton, going down 4-0. Those results are reflected in the prices for this game with the Gunners at just 1.48 for victory. Given what’s happened at Villa this summer, you can understand why the layers have taken that approach.
The Europa League-winning side has been hollowed out with Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez the latest stars to depart this week. They join the likes of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne through the exit door. The good news is, with Champions League football to come, Villa are still interesting good players to join them. The experienced Leon Goretzka arrived this week, while the club is said to be interested in Nicolas Jackson and Rafael Leao as deadline day nears.
Monday Night Football: Trust in Emery
Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes have already joined, although neither can play here – the former is injured and the latter suspended. They also have one of the top managers to help shape the side in Unai Emery, although one does wonder how much time he’s spent on the training pitch this week given all the transfer business that has been going on. It is one of the players who remains from last season who catches the eye ahead of this game.
Emi Buendia started as a ‘false nine’ at Brighton last week and with Watkins off to Saudi Arabia, Tammy Abraham linked with Ipswich and rising star Brian Madjo injured, he could well do so again. If that’s the case, 5.5 about Villa’s central attacker scoring is tempting – the Argentine has a decent goals record from midfield, netting 11 last season. Other alternatives include 3+ shots at 2.55 – Buendia landed this at Brighton – while he managed a shot on target in five of his last six appearances of last season. That’s 1.92 here.
Emery’s nous has helped Villa cause Arsenal plenty of problems in recent seasons and there can’t be many sides who have scored in seven of their last eight league games against the Gunners. For trends followers, 1.78 about both teams scoring has potential. Turning to Arsenal, they could hand debuts to Bruno Guimaraes and former Villa defender Konsa but William Saliba and Jurrien Timber remain absent from their much-lauded defence.
Monday Night Football: Terrific Tzolis
I’ve already mentioned Christos Tzolis on these pages this season and he was one of the eyecatchers in last week’s win over Coventry. My suggestion of the Greek bagging an assist didn’t prove to be a winner for those who managed to back him, although he was rather unlucky, with Arsenal scoring from his cross that the keeper got a palm to before it was converted. Tzolis got four assists in pre-season to add to his remarkable 29 for Club Brugge last term. After his livewire performance last week, I have no hesitation is backing him for another here as it’s not hard to see the rejigged Villa side struggling to keep the champions out.
Monday Night Football Best Bets: Aston Villa v Arsenal
Buendia 1+ goal @ 5.5 with kwiff
Tzolis 1+ assist @ 3.09 with kwiff
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