Arsenal vs Aston Villa (or Aston Villa vs Arsenal if you prefer) is a fixture that has been played since 1904 and it has returned more than it’s fair share of entertainment, but how did it all start?
Arsenal vs Aston Villa first took place on 8 October, 1904, in front of 32,000 spectators at the Manor Ground, Plumstead. The Gunners had only just been promoted to the First Division ahead of the start of the season and were still called Woolwich Arsenal.
Playing into the sun and against a strong wind in the first half, Arsenal really let fly in the second. “And then how much Woolwich Arsenal had been playing within themselves against the ill conditions was shown when they ‘let themselves go’,” The Morning Post wrote two days later.
“Woolwich in pace and skill outplayed Aston Villa in the last half house, and their zealous and high-spirited football was worth much more than the odd goal of the match. The victory was the triumph of the half-backs.
“Woolwich Arsenal have now thoroughly justified their promotion to the first degree of the League. They have not been beaten at home, and their success in two matches against strong sides have drawn from them that fine ability which their brilliant career in the Second Division made it almost obvious that they possessed.
“Aston Villa were criticised on Saturday as being something of a disappointment. But, after all, there is something in the dictum, that ‘a side generally plays as well as its opponent let it.’
“That the Arsenal football has ‘caught on’ tremendously in the London area was again proved by the immense attendance. And it is now time that the South-Eastern and Chatham Company should endeavour to make it possible to get to Plumstead on a Saturday with some slighter degree of discomfort than has been recently experienced. The congested state of the trains from Cannon-Street and London Bridge on Saturday afternoon was an appeal in itself to the officials of the company to move in the matter.”
The winning goal was scored 20 minutes into the first half, Tim Coleman chasing down the ball before shooting. The Villa keeper, George, came out but as the ball hit him it fell to William Henry Gooing who rolled it into an empty net.
Arsenal went on to finish their first season in the top flight in 10th place, 15 points behind League title winners, Newcastle. Villa finished fourth and there was no sign of Spurs, Chelsea, or Manchester United.
Arsenal have remained in the top flight ever since.
Arsenal vs Aston Villa/Aston Villa vs Arsenal Head-to-Head
| vs Aston Villa | ||||
| Games won: | 83 | |||
| Games drawn: | 45 | |||
| Games lost: | 68 | |||
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
| 08 Oct 1904 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 26 Dec 1904 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 27 Dec 1905 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 13 Apr 1906 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Sep 1906 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 01 Apr 1907 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Oct 1907 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | W | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 08 Feb 1908 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 07 Novs 1908 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 13 Mar 1909 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Sep 1909 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 5-1 | League Division One |
| 11 Apr 1910 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 17 Sep 1910 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 15 Mar 1911 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 09 Sep 1911 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 06 Jan 1912 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 16 Sep 1912 | Woolwich Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 24 Mar 1913 | Aston Villa vs Woolwich Arsenal | L | 4-1 | League Division One |
| 24 Jan 1920 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 11 Feb 1920 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 28 Aug 1920 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 04 Sep 1920 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 18 Mar 1922 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 25 Mar 1922 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 31 Mar 1923 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 07 Apr 1923 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 16 Feb 1924 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Mar 1924 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 18 Oct 1924 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 01 Apr 1925 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 20 Feb 1926 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 24 Feb 1926 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| 02 Apr 1926 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 05 Apr 1926 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 15 Apr 1927 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 18 Apr 1927 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 2-3 | League Division One |
| 10 Sep 1927 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 21 Jan 1928 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 18 Feb 1928 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-1 | FA Cup |
| 24 Novs 1928 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 2-5 | League Division One |
| 02 Mar 1929 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | FA Cup |
| 06 Apr 1929 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 25 Sep 1929 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-2 | League Division One |
| 03 May 1930 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 2-4 | League Division One |
| 08 Novs 1930 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-2 | League Division One |
| 10 Jan 1931 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | FA Cup |
| 14 Jan 1931 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-3 | FA Cup |
| 14 Mar 1931 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-1 | League Division One |
| 31 Oct 1931 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 25 Apr 1932 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 19 Novs 1932 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-3 | League Division One |
| 01 Apr 1933 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Oct 1933 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 2-3 | League Division One |
| Sat 03 Mar | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | FA Cup |
| Sat 10 Mar | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | League Division One |
| 17 Novs 1934 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 30 Mar 1935 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-3 | League Division One |
| Sat 14 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-7 | League Division One |
| 18 Apr 1936 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 24 Sep 1938 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Jan 1939 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-3 | League Division One |
| 14 Sep 1946 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-2 | League Division One |
| Sat 18 Jan | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 11 Oct 1947 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 28 Feb | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 4-2 | League Division One |
| 11 Sep 1948 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 22 Jan | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 26 Novs 1949 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| Wed 29 Mar | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-3 | League Division One |
| 21 Oct 1950 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 10 Mar | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 08 Sep 1951 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 5 Jan | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 23 Aug 1952 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | League Division One |
| Sat 20 Dec | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Aug 1953 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 9 Jan | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-1 | FA Cup |
| 06 Apr 1954 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 23 Oct | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Mar 1955 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 1 Oct | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Jan 1956 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-1 | FA Cup |
| Sat 11 Feb | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 03 Novs 1956 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 16 Mar | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 02 Oct 1957 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-0 | League Division One |
| 26 Dec 1957 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 22 Oct 1958 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | League Division One |
| Sat 13 Dec | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 15 Oct 1960 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 4 Mar | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 2-2 | League Division One |
| 11 Novs 1961 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 31 Mar 1962 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 4-5 | League Division One |
| 04 Sep 1962 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | League Division One |
| 10 Sep 1962 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 10 Sep 1963 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 19 Oct | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Aug 1964 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 19 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| 04 Dec 1965 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 3-3 | League Division One |
| Sat 30 Apr | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 27 Aug | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 31 Dec 1966 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 26 Jan | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 30 Jan 1974 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| 13 Sep 1975 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-0 | League Division One |
| 10 Jan 1976 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| Wed 20 Oct | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-1 | League Division One |
| 25 Apr 1977 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-0 | League Division One |
| 10 Sep 1977 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | League Division One |
| 04 Feb 1978 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 07 Oct 1978 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 25 Apr 1979 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 5-1 | League Division One |
| 22 Sep 1979 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 09 Feb 1980 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 29 Nov | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 02 May 1981 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | League Division One |
| Sat 7 Nov | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-2 | League Division One |
| 27 Mar 1982 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-3 | League Division One |
| Tue 7 Dec | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 12 Mar 1983 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | FA Cup |
| Sat 14 May | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 29 Oct 1983 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 2-6 | League Division One |
| Sat 18 Feb | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| 10 Novs 1984 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | League Division One |
| Wed 13 Mar | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 05 Oct 1985 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | League Division One |
| 22 Jan 1986 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | League Cup |
| 04 Feb 1986 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | League Cup |
| Sat 08 Mar | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-4 | League Division One |
| 29 Novs 1986 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-4 | League Division One |
| 02 May 1987 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 03 Sep 1988 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 2-3 | League Division One |
| Sat 31 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-3 | League Division One |
| 30 Dec 1989 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 2-1 | League Division One |
| 11 Apr 1990 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Division One |
| 23 Dec 1990 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| Wed 3 Apr | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-0 | League Division One |
| 24 Aug 1991 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-1 | League Division One |
| Sat 11 Jan | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | League Division One |
| 28 Dec 1992 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| Mon 12 Apr | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 06 Novs 1993 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 30 Novs 1993 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-1 | League Cup |
| 23 Apr 1994 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 1994 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 17 Apr 1995 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-4 | Premier League |
| Sat 21 Oct | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 02 Dec 1995 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| Wed 14 Feb | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | League Cup |
| 21 Feb 1996 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | League Cup |
| 07 Sep 1996 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 28 Dec 1996 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| Sun 26 Oct | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 10 May 1998 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| Sun 13 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 3-2 | Premier League |
| 16 May 1999 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 11 Sep 1999 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 05 Mar 2000 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| Sat 14 Oct | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 18 Mar 2001 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| Sun 9 Dec | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | Premier League |
| 17 Mar 2002 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| Sat 30 Nov | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 05 Apr 2003 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 27 Aug 2003 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 18 Jan 2004 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-2 | Premier League |
| Sat 16 Oct | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 05 Feb 2005 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| Sat 31 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 01 Apr 2006 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-0 | Premier League |
| 19 Aug 2006 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 14 Mar 2007 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-1 | Premier League |
| Sat 1 Dec | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 01 Mar 2008 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 15 Novs 2008 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-2 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2008 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 2-2 | Premier League |
| 27 Dec 2009 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 27 Jan 2010 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 27 Novs 2010 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 2-4 | Premier League |
| 15 May 2011 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 21 Dec 2011 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 29 Jan 2012 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | FA Cup |
| 24 Mar 2012 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 24 Novs 2012 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League |
| 23 Feb 2013 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 17 Aug 2013 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 13 Jan 2014 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 20 Sep 2014 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Premier League |
| 01 Feb 2015 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 5-0 | Premier League |
| 30 May 2015 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-0 | FA Cup |
| 13 Dec 2015 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | W | 0-2 | Premier League |
| 15 May 2016 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 4-0 | Premier League |
| 22 Sep 2019 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | Premier League |
| 21 Jul 2020 | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | L | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 08 Novs 2020 | Arsenal vs Aston Villa | L | 0-3 | Premier League |