Both teams were in European action on Tuesday night. The Gunners saw off the challenge of Shakhtar Donetsk, though it was trumped by Villa's own success against Bologna to top the competition's league table with a perfect 100 percent record - the only team to do so with three matches played so far.
Aston Villa notebook: Jhon Duran transfer prediction, £3.6m boost and avoiding damaging repeat
And also in domestic activity Unai Emery has managed to keep his players at the same pace of his former club. With eight rounds played both sit on 17 points, four points off leaders Liverpool, and only goal difference keeping Villa from the top three.
But not only are their fates linked on-field, but it seems they are off-field as well. Here, Birmingham Live analyses the latest news and rumours around Villa Park...
North London interest
The latest transfer rumours suggest Villa are going to have to wary of their Premier League rivals in the capital over the coming months.
First up, two reports have emerged that the Gunners have their eyes fixed on Jhon Duran. AS initially revealed Mikel Arteta would be the driving force behind any move in the market, whilst Sport Witness claim they have actually already 'made contact' over the signing.
The striker made only his second start of the campaign against Bologna on Tuesday night and judging by his reaction to being substituted, feels like he deserves a greater role in Unai Emery's plans. But with Ollie Watkins on the scene, that may not be possible for the time being.
After a summer of transfer speculation the 20-year-old made a major U-turn to recently put pen to paper on the six-year contract at Villa Park.
So following on from Duran, according to The Telegraph they have also been tracking the progress of the club's development team goalkeeper Oliwier Zych.
The Poland Under-21 international has similarly caught the eye, especially having now been called up to his country's senior squad. His contract in the West Midlands is due to expire next summer, so Arsenal and Brighton are labelled as on alert.
As he is still only 20-years-old, Villa would be entitled to a compensatory fee. These are usually settled by a tribunal and end up much lower than any potential transfer fee.
Meanwhile it was Emery and his team that were tipped to be the ones who could not juggle the pressures or physical demands of battling on multiple fronts, only for them to now exceed expectations.
And so, this has resulted in talkSPORT pundit and ex-Tottenham striker Jason Cundy to stir the pot with his latest bold prediction. He now believes that Villa will finish higher of the two in the Premier League.
"We go from Arsenal - looking okay, doing well, top-four, not so convincing. Then you go the other side, you go Villa, right, convincing. They beat Bologna and I saw Bologna against Liverpool, they gave them a game and caused them problems.
"There were one or two moments - hit the post - but you expect that. Villa, tonight it has been an absolute pleasure to watch your team. If you're a Villa fan going to Villa Park, you go thinking 'we're gonna win today'. That's what he [Emery] has turned them into - they're a machine.
"Do not underestimate Aston Villa, and if Arsenal, right now you had to say to me 'who is gonna finish higher right now - Villa or Arsenal?' I'm going Villa. Right now, yes. They're top of the Champions League! There is something happening at Villa."
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