The English Premier League traditionally does not pause for the New Year holidays, although this time December 31 will be a non-matchday.
As reported by Idman.Biz, Matchday 19 of the Premier League will span December 30 and January 1, with the majority of fixtures scheduled for the first matchday.
Ahead of the round, the title race remains extremely tight. Arsenal lead the table with 42 points, Manchester City are just two points behind on 40, while Aston Villa stay within touching distance on 39. Slightly further back are Liverpool with 32 points, as well as Chelsea and Manchester United with 29 each, meaning any slip during the festive period could quickly reshape the standings.
Arsenal – Aston Villa (December 30)
One of the headline matches of the round will take place in London at the Emirates Stadium and kick off at 20:15 local time. Arsenal approach the game as league leaders, while Aston Villa remain close behind and continue to apply pressure in the title race.
In the previous round, Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Brighton 2:1, scoring the winning goal late in the match. Aston Villa, meanwhile, collected three away points against Chelsea with a 2:1 victory, where Ollie Watkins was the key figure after scoring a brace.
In the build-up to the clash, squad news stands out. According to media reports, Arsenal continue to deal with injuries, while Aston Villa have suspensions that affect their selection options. It is also important to note that the Birmingham side have already beaten the Londoners this season. In Matchday 15, Aston Villa defeated the Gunners 2:1. That result marked only Arsenal’s second defeat of the current Premier League campaign, and Arteta’s team will surely be eager to take revenge this time.
Other Matchday 19 fixtures
December 30
Burnley – Newcastle
Chelsea – Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest – Everton
West Ham – Brighton
Manchester United – Wolverhampton
January 1
Crystal Palace – Fulham
Liverpool – Leeds
Brentford – Tottenham
Sunderland – Manchester City
Premier League table at the moment
1. Arsenal – 42
2. Manchester City – 40
3. Aston Villa – 39
4. Liverpool – 32
5. Chelsea – 29
6. Manchester United – 29
7. Sunderland – 28
8. Brentford – 26
9. Crystal Palace – 26
10. Fulham – 26
11. Tottenham – 25
12. Everton – 25
13. Brighton – 24
14. Newcastle – 23
15. Bournemouth – 22
16. Leeds – 20
17. Nottingham Forest – 18
18. West Ham – 13
19. Burnley – 12
20. Wolverhampton – 2
Teymur Tushiyev
