The 19th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season will take place, with Arsenal hosting Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta stated in a press conference that they will review past defeats and learn from them, and are very much looking forward to facing Unai Emery's team.

Arsenal defeated Brighton 2-1 in the last round of the league, thanks to a goal from Ødegaard and an own goal by an opposing player. After winning four and losing one of their last five matches, Arsenal currently sits atop the table with 42 points, two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. This means the Gunners must maintain their winning streak to hold onto their top spot.

Aston Villa, with Emery's team on an eight-game winning streak, are in third place in the standings with 39 points, directly entering the title race.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, "It will be a very tough game. We know their level and what they are doing, but it is also a great game to look forward to and to be prepared to give it our all."

“They deserve their current position. If you look at their performance, consistency, and everything Emery has done for this club, I think they fully deserve these accolades because they have proven their worth on the pitch.”

In head-to-head records, Arsenal have only managed one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five encounters with Aston Villa, including a 1-2 away defeat to the opponent earlier this month.

Arteta said, "We'll look back at that game. I already have some ideas and I know where we need to do better. The way we lost was quite brutal, but we'll learn from it. If we can channel that motivation and anger in the right way, it will certainly help."

“We will closely assess the squad situation and the timeline for certain players to return from injury. We need sufficient depth from the forward line to the defense. If you look at other clubs, they often have 24 or 25 players, so our squad is not particularly special. But the problem is that we have suffered more injuries than expected, some of which I think were unavoidable. But we hope to get better and we understand how important it is to have the right players available throughout the season.”

In addition, Arteta said, "The transfer window is about to open. We are Arsenal, and we must carefully examine and ask ourselves what we need. We must actively observe the market. As for whether we can complete the deal, that's another matter. But our job is always to be fully prepared because things can change at any time."

“We will assess every situation. I will leave this aspect to sporting director Andrea Berta to understand market dynamics and player situations. We must assess where everyone is currently and strive to make the decision that is most beneficial to all parties.”