Saturday’s late Premier League fixture promises to be captivating as Unai Emery prepares his Aston Villa team to take on his former club, Arsenal. Both teams kicked off the season with wins on the opening day.

Following a hectic summer transfer window, it was one Villa’s potential departures who turned out to be their standout performer at the London Stadium, leading them to a 2-1 victory over West Ham United. Fringe striker Jhon Duran, who has been the subject of rejected bids from the Hammers, came off the bench to win the game for Villa late on.

Arsenal, meanwhile, began their season with a convincing 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Bukayo Saka was in stellar form, delivering a superb cross that Kai Havertz headed in during the first half. Saka then sealed the win with a goal of his own late in the second half.

The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.

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Aston Villa vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channel in UK

Here’s how to watch this Premier League match in the UK:

• TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Ultra HD
• Live stream: Sky Go, NOW

This game is available for live TV broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HD in the UK. 

Sky Sports subscribers can live stream the game via the Sky Go app on various devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription. You can also access the match via NOW with a day membership (£14.99) or monthly membership (£34.99).

If this match is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)

What time does Aston Villa vs. Arsenal kick off in UK?

This Premier League clash takes place at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, and kicks off on Saturday, August 24 at 5:30 p.m. local time (BST).

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal lineups, team news

Despite his limited participation in preseason training, Ollie Watkins led the line for Villa but only lasted 62 minutes as Villa boss Unai Emery managed his minutes. 

Amadou Onana made his debut for the Villans and what a debut it was as he powerfully headed home to give his side the lead. The back four could see a change as Ian Maatsen gets to full-match fitness at left-back. 

Jhon Duran is likely to remain on the bench for Villa once more, despite being the matchwinner in his last appearance. Jacob Ramsey will also be hoping their performances in East London have earned them a spot in the starting XI.

Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara are out for an extended period, while Robin Olsen’s availability is still uncertain.

Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK)— Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen — Onana, Tielemans — Bailey, Rogers, McGinn — Watkins.

Injured: Kamara, Mings, Olsen
Suspended: N/A

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said that Declan Rice was withdrawn due to a cramp in his leg on the opening day of the season, so he should be fit to start alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in midfield. 

Riccardo Calafiori may have to wait for his first Premier League start as the Gunners boss chose his trusted partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba at the back. That may continue as the Italian adjusts to life in England’s top-flight. 

The Gunners are negotiating a move for Mikel Merino, but it’s unlikely that any deal finalized before the weekend will see him feature in this match. Eddie Nketiah might also miss out due to the growing interest in his services.

Arteta is expected to keep faith in the starting eleven from last game. With Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney sidelined with injuries, Fabio Vieira might make a comeback to the squad if he recovers from his hip problem.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber — Odegaard, Partey, Rice — Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Injured: Tomiyasu, Tierney, Vieira
Suspended: N/A

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal prediction

Both teams have hit the ground running, so a draw seems like a fair bet. Everyone involved would likely be content with a 1-1 result.

Since 2012, these two teams haven’t drawn, playing 18 matches without a stalemate. Aston Villa’s double last season snapped a four-game losing streak against the Gunners.

Emery, known for his success in knockout tournaments, has demonstrated a knack for outsmarting opponents with his strategic and meticulous game plans. The Gunners fell prey to this tactical acumen last season and will now need to prove they can adapt and overcome, which makes it an even more exciting watch.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal