Key events
Those teams: William Saliba is a conspicuous absentee for Arsenal, having pulled up lame towards the end of his side’s win over Spurs in midweek. We can probably expect to see Jurrien Timber fill in at centre-back alongside Gabriel, with Thomas Partey lining up at right-back. This game has also come too soon for Riccardo Calafiori, who is not in the matchday squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly keep his place at left-back, where he impressed his nan with his tough tackling against Tottenham.
Unai Emery brings in Ian Maatsen at left-back for Villa, with Lucas Digne missing out. New signing Donyell Malen is on a strong substitutes’ bench, where he’ll be able to make smalltalk with Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey, among other new teammates.
Arsenal v Aston Villa line-ups
Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Merino, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Kacurri, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Tielemans, Ramsey Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Bogarde, Nedeljkovic, Buendia, Bailey, Malen, Duran
Early team news
Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all sidelined with injury, but Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori could return from injury after a three-game absence. Whether or not he will start ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who played so well against Tottenham, remains to be seen.
Unai Emery is without Pau Torres, John McGinnn and Ross Barkley, who are all injured. Diego Carlos is also expected to be unavailable because of a minor niggle. The defender was linked with a move to Fenerbahce by his manager yesterday and is expected to leave Villa before the end of the transfer window.
In better news for Emery, the Spaniard can call on Donyell Malen, the 25-year-old Dutch winger who signed for Villa from Borussia Dortmund yesterday and could make his Premier League debut at the home of the club where he spent two years as a youth team player.
“He’s used to playing as a seven, sometimes an 11 on the left, but also as a number 10,” said Unai Emery of Malen. “He’s always close to the opponent’s box and scores and assists goals – we will need a player like him to be a threat to the opponent in behind.”
Premier League: Arsenal v Aston Villa
Following Tuesday night’s home win over Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates for what could be a sterner test of their title credentials than the one they passed fairly easily in midweek.
Unbeaten in four games, Aston Villa arrive in London on the back of three consecutive wins and their manager Unai Emery will be hopeful his team can deliver the goods on a return to an old stomping ground where he unable to work his managerial magic. Kick-off at the Emirates Stadium is at 5.30pm (GMT) but we’ll have team news and build-up in the meantime.
