Aston Villa face a stern test against Premier League champions Arsenal on Monday, August 31, as they look to recover from a difficult start to the 2026-27 season. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET at Villa Park in Birmingham, with television coverage on USA Network and streaming available via services like FuboTV, as reported by PennLive.
Unai Emery's side sit 19th in the Premier League with 0 points, 0 wins, 0 draws, and 2 losses from their opening two fixtures, a run of form marked LL. They have yet to score a goal this season while conceding five, leaving them with a -5 goal difference and already six points behind early leaders Manchester City. This match presents a formidable challenge to reverse that negative momentum.
How have Aston Villa started the season?
The campaign began in the worst possible fashion for Villa with a 4-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Brighton scored all four of their goals in the first half, leaving Villa with a mountain to climb. That result followed three consecutive preseason friendly losses, compounding the sense of a team struggling for form. The immediate task is to find a response and secure a first positive result, which you can track in the context of the full season on our standings page.
What form are Arsenal in?
Arsenal, in contrast, have begun their title defense in imperious fashion. They opened the league season with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City on August 21, with goals from Kai Havertz (15th minute), Bukayo Saka (23rd minute), and Martin Odegaard (49th minute). The Gunners dominated that match, registering 20 shots and 36 touches in the opposition box. They also defeated Manchester City 3-0 to win the English FA Community Shield, signaling their intent for the season ahead.
Where can you watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa?
For fans looking to watch the match, it will be broadcast live on USA Network. Several streaming platforms offer access, including FuboTV and DirecTV, both of which provide free trial periods. SlingTV is another option, frequently featuring a low introductory rate for new subscribers. The 3 p.m. ET kickoff on Monday concludes the matchweek's action.
What comes next for Aston Villa?
The focus for Villa will quickly shift beyond this daunting fixture. Their next assignment is an away trip to face Hull City on Saturday, September 5. Hull currently sit 3rd in the table, making it another tough encounter for a team in need of points. You can view the full schedule of upcoming challenges on our fixtures page. The club's immediate priority is halting their slide and building a platform for the season, with the visit of the champions providing the ultimate early-season examination.
