All-action Belgian international Amadou Onana was right in the thick of things on his Aston Villa debut last weekend. Alongside netting the game’s first goal against West Ham, the 23-year-old attempted three tackles and was fouled three times himself by his counterparts in midfield.

Onana was a ground dual specialist last season, committing 1.59 fouls and drawing 1.94 fouls per 90 minutes for Everton in the Premier League. Onana was also fouled in each of his appearances against Arsenal in 2023/24 and he should be in the midfield melee against the Gunners again on Saturday. Back the Belgian to be fouled at least twice again.

Bustling Aston Villa captain John McGinn was in typically energetic form against West Ham last weekend when he gave away two free kicks and drew three fouls in the opposite direction at the London Stadium.

McGinn, who committed 1.17 fouls per 90 in the league last season, loves to engage in physical exchanges with his opponents and the 29-year-old was collared for three fouls when Villa beat Arsenal in last season’s corresponding fixture. Backing McGinn to commit at least one foul against the Gunners again looks like an easy pick up here.

Bukayo Saka looked razor sharp on his first outing of the campaign against Wolves last weekend when the winger used his devastating left foot to clock five attempts against Wanderers, finding his range three times and scoring once.

Saka wasn’t quite as clinical when he faced Villa last season and found the target with just one of his seven efforts across his two Premier League appearances against the Villains, though he did register 0.90 in xGF combined in those encounters.

On last weekend’s evidence, the 22-year-old’s finishing should be sharper this time around and backing the England man to have 1+ shots on target at Villa Park could be good business.

Aston Villa kept two clean sheets against Arsenal last season, though they conceded 3.00 in xGA across their two victories to nil over the Gunners and they needed several interventions from keeper Emi Martinez to keep the Londoners out.

Former Arsenal stopper Martinez made three saves in Villa’s triumph over the Gunners at Villa Park last December and another four when the Villains upset their hosts at the Emirates Stadium in May. The 31-year-old’s reflexes could be tested just as regularly on Saturday, so adding the Argentinian to your docket in the 3+ saves niche looks like a safe inclusion.

Some players have a knack for punishing the same opponents over and over again, and Ollie Watkins has been a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side since his switch to Aston Villa in 2020. Watkins has represented the Villains in this fixture eight times over the last four years and the confident finisher managed to score five goals against the Gunners during that period.

Watkins tends to thrive when chasing passes in behind Arsenal’s high defensive line and his dynamic runs and acceleration could trouble the Gunners’ backline again on Saturday. Watkins’s record in this fixture is difficult to dismiss and he has serious credentials in the anytime goalscorer market at Villa Park.

Unai Emery did a tactical number on his old club Arsenal and his compatriot Mikel Arteta twice last season. Aston Villa counter-punched their way to victory both home and away against the Gunners in 2023/24 and with that blueprint offering inspiration, the Villains could take more points off the Londoners on Saturday.

Villa have been a powerhouse on home soil under the direction of Emery and they were beaten in only three of their last 26 home league fixtures at Villa Park. It’s worth remembering that the Villains won 100% of their first eight Premier League home matches last term, beating Man City, Spurs and Arsenal along the way. Don’t be surprised if they put an early dent in Arsenal’s title hopes again here.

The repetitive fouling of Bukayo Saka is a source of frustration for Arsenal’s coaching staff and supporters alike and the technically gifted winger was fouled 2.12 times per 90 in the Premier League last season, making him one of the most kicked operators in the division.

Saka came in for some particularly rough treatment in games against Aston Villa last season and the 22-year-old was fouled five times at Villa Park and three times at the Emirates Stadium by his Villains markers. Saka’s match-winning ability could make him a target again on Saturday and backing him to be fouled at least twice again could reap dividends.

While he still divides opinion, there is no denying that Kai Havertz is an increasingly impactful presence for Arsenal and the German international caused more mayhem in the final third last weekend when he registered five shots against Wolves.

Havertz, who opened the scoring against Wanderers with a well-taken header, averaged 0.92 shots on target per 90 last term, though he improved on his average to land two shots on target when he lined up against Villa in April and he has the tools to threaten the same opponents on Saturday.

With last week’s performance thrown in, Havertz has now had at least one shot on target in 16 of his last 17 Premier League appearances and he can prolong that streak this weekend.