Aston Villa vs Arsenal live: Score and updates as high-flyers clash in Premier League

Villa are knocking it around well when they do have the ball, and they look dangerous on the attack, with Hincapie and Timber not winning as many long balls or duels as Gabriel and Saliba usually do.

Rogers and McGinn are picking up the ball in encouraging areas at the moment.

CHANCE! Saka has a go from distance and it forces a good save from Martinez, with Odegaard collecting the rebound.

He works it back for the cross and Saka is there again, but he heads wide of the far post.

CLOSE! What a chance after some great work from Watkins!

Calafiori falls in defence to open up the space, and McGinn threads through a pass to Watkins. He’s 1-v-1 with Hincapie and cuts back to get away from him before evading another challenge to take him 1-v-1 with Raya.

It looks like a certain goal for the England man but Raya dives early to his left and produces a great save!

Should have been 1-0 there!

A high press results in the first shot of the game as Timber wins the ball midway into the Villa half.

It’s shipped on to Odegaard and he tries his luck from outside the area, but it’s too close to Martinez.

Arsenal are now starting to press higher, with Pau Torres doing well not to concede a corner just there.

The Gunners win the ball in midfield but give it away uncharacteristically quickly. It’s been stop-start so far with plenty of exchanging of possession.

Villa are a lot more keen to press Raya and co. when they have the ball early on, while Arsenal are beginning to put some pressure on in midfield.

A strange touch from Raya brings the ball closer to going in his own net but he manages to boot it clear.

Arsenal already looking pretty settled when in possession, though neither side has been able to put together anything in attack.

The Gunners are happy too sit off when Villa have possession in their half at the moment.

We’re underway at Villa Park!

Can Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the league, or can Villa enter the title race (for however long)?

Both sides are in the tunnel at Villa Park, so we’ll be underway soon in the Midlands!

Here’s the full list of Premier League fixtures for the day then:

Aston Villa vs Arsenal – 12.30pm

Everton vs Nottingham Forest

Leeds Utd vs Liverpool – 5.30pm