Aston Villa vs Chelsea Predictions

• Aston Villa have lost just two of their last nine games in all competitions
• Chelsea have shipped 11 goals in five matches in April
• Aston Villa have scored at least two goals in four of their last five matches
• Ollie Watkins has struck 19 goals in the Premier League this season

Blues unlikely to bounceback from Arsenal battering

Chelsea’s hopes of landing a European berth in the Premier League were dented by a humiliating 5-0 hammering by Arsenal on Tuesday night and more misery could await the Blues when they face Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were second-best in all departments at the Emirates, having allowed Arsenal 27 shots, ten of which were on target, while forcing just one effort on target themselves.

They trailed 5-0 with 20 minutes still to play and, had Arsenal been more ruthless in the first half, it could have been even more embarrassing.

That was an 11th Premier League defeat in what has again been an underwhelming season from the Blues, who are locked in mid-table obscurity.

They showed they can excel with a 6-0 thrashing of Everton earlier this month but on their travels they have been poor, registering only five wins in 16 road games.

A lengthy injury list featuring the likes of Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Levi Colwill among others is not helping matters and the Blues should be opposed at Villa Park.

Villa on course for Champions League

Although they have played two games more than Tottenham going into the weekend, Aston Villa have tightened their stranglehold of fourth spot in the Premier League.

Back-to-back league wins over Arsenal and Bournemouth either side of a Europa Conference League quarter-final triumph over Lille on penalties has seen the confidence of Unai Emery’s men go through the roof.

And home performances have been especially key this season with Villa winning 12 of their 17 league matches on their own patch this term, racking up 43 goals in the process.

Recent Emirates displays show difference in quality

The disparity between these sides is evident in their recent trips to the Emirates Stadium.

Whereas Chelsea were battered and bruised by Arsenal in midweek, Villa managed to keep Mikel Arteta’s men quiet, snatching a 2-0 victory thanks to late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.

A Villa win looks seriously overpriced and goals should also flow given that Emery’s side have scored at least twice in four of their last five Premier League fixtures.

With that in mind, a 3-1 win for Villa could be the way to go in the correct score betting.

This match also features two of the Premier League’s leading scorers in Cole Palmer and  Ollie Watkins but it is Watkins who is worth a bet to net with the support of Villa Park behind him.