Aston Villa are set to face West Ham United in a crucial Premier League clash, with the return of captain John McGinn following his recovery from a hamstring injury. McGinn's presence will be a welcome boost for Villa, although the midfield will still miss the services of Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, and Pau Torres. Furthermore, new signings Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia have yet to make their debuts for the club, leaving Villa with a mix of experience and fresh talent to navigate this important fixture.
West Ham United, meanwhile, may see the return of key players Crysencio Summerville or Jarrod Bowen. Summerville has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury during the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa on 10 January, while Bowen is nearing a comeback from a fractured foot. However, the Hammers will be without Dinos Mavropanos, who is suspended following a red card received in their recent match against Crystal Palace.
Historically, Aston Villa are aiming to achieve their first league double over West Ham since the 2010-11 season, having already secured a 2-1 victory at the London Stadium earlier this season. Last season, Villa inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat on West Ham at Villa Park, ending the Hammers' five-match unbeaten streak at the venue, where they had previously recorded three wins and two draws. Just a fortnight ago, Villa triumphed over West Ham again in the FA Cup, further boosting their confidence ahead of this encounter.
Currently, Aston Villa boast an impressive home record, remaining unbeaten in their last ten Premier League matches at Villa Park, with six victories and four draws. This run represents one of their strongest home performances in recent years, with only three longer unbeaten streaks recorded at the ground. However, under the management of Unai Emery, Villa have struggled to translate their Champions League fixtures into league success, having not won any of their last five league matches following such games, which included two draws and three defeats. Alarmingly, Villa have allowed opponents to score from their first shot on target in 11 Premier League games this season, the highest in the league, and they have conceded 11 goals after the 75th minute, second only to Southampton's 12.
In contrast, West Ham's recent form has been troubling, with three losses in their last four league matches. Their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup marked Graham Potter's first match in charge, underscoring the team's difficulties on the road. The Hammers have lost 10 of their last 16 away matches across all competitions, managing only three wins and three draws during that period. They have also struggled to establish leads, having only been ahead at half-time in three Premier League fixtures this season, the joint-lowest in the league.
Statistically, West Ham's performance has noticeably declined in matches without Jarrod Bowen since last season, suffering losses in five of the seven games he missed. When Bowen is on the pitch, the team averages 13.1 shots and 4.3 shots on target per match, contrasting sharply with just 8.7 shots and 2.4 shots on target when he is absent.
Aston Villa's recent encounters with West Ham have been favourable, winning two of their last three Premier League meetings, which matches their tally from the previous 16 matches (D6 L8). The heavy defeat inflicted on West Ham at Villa Park last season ended their unbeaten run there, and with a 2-1 victory already this season, Villa are keen to complete the league double over the Hammers for the first time in over a decade.
As reported by the BBC, Aston Villa's current home record features a 10-match unbeaten streak (W6 D4), placing them second only to Arsenal for the longest streaks in Premier League history. Their last unbeaten run of 11 or more matches at Villa Park dates back to March-December 2023, when they won 16 out of 17 matches (D1). Meanwhile, West Ham's struggles away from home will pose a significant challenge as they prepare to face a determined Aston Villa side.
In terms of individual achievements, Ollie Watkins is on the cusp of reaching 100 Premier League goal involvements this weekend, while Lukasz Fabianski is poised to make his 313th Premier League appearance since turning 30, which would tie him with Edwin van der Sar for the most appearances in that age category. As the match approaches, both teams will be eager to secure vital points, but Aston Villa will undoubtedly be buoyed by their recent form and home advantage.