Saturday's Premier League & FA Cup assist and card predictions: Saka to provide

Free special tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Arsenal in the Premier League and Middlesbrough v Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Where to watch

Aston Villa v Arsenal
BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Middlesbrough v Chelsea
BBC One, 5.15pm Saturday

Best bets

Bukayo Saka to register an assist
1pt 4-1 bet365

Over 14.5 Aston Villa free kicks
1pt 7-4 bet365

Marcos Alonso to be shown a card
1pt 7-2 bet365

Marcus Tavernier to have a shot on target
1pt 7-5Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

Saturday's only Premier League game is an intriguing encounter between Aston Villa and Arsenal, who will be looking to cement their grip on fourth place after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in midweek.

One area the Gunners may look to exploit is down Aston Villa’s left after Lucas Digne was ruled out of this game with the hamstring injury he suffered at West Ham.

As a result, Ashley Young could well line up at left-back and Bukayo Saka’s pace and trickery may cause him problems.

The young forward has been a revelation over the last few seasons and is in the top 15 for expected assists in this year’s Premier League.

Saka has five assists to his name already in this campaign and at 4-1 he looks overpriced for another given Villa’s weakness down their left flank.

The 20-year-old also takes his fair share of corners so is a dual creative threat.

In the same game, referee Andy Madley could be a busy man.

Villa are the most fouled team in the league, picking up 440 freekicks this season, and if it becomes a scrappy game in midfield, that may suit Steven Gerrard’s side.

Madley has also averaged the most fouls per game of any referee to be in charge of ten or more Premier League ties this campaign with 24.09 and that makes a bet on over 14.5 free kicks for Aston Villa of interest at 7-4.

Middlesbrough will be looking to repeat their FA Cup heroics of the previous two rounds when they knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham in their quarter-final clash with Chelsea.

Chelsea have had a hard time of it with off-the-field issues and a vital midweek European away game so the Blues may not get this tie all their own way.

Boro's Isaiah Jones was playing in the Scottish Championship just last year but has been arguably their player of the season and can give Marcos Alonso the runaround.

Jones is the third-most fouled player in the second tier this season and will be up against Alonso, who has six yellows in 16 Premier League starts this campaign.

Odds of 7-2 for the left-back to go in the referee’s book looks tempting as a result.

Marcus Tavernier has also been impressive recently for Boro and at 7-5 looks value for a shot on target. He has 22 already this year, the second-most of any in Chris Wilder’s squad.

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