Arsenal vs Aston Villa team news: Emery names one change to surprise Gunners

Kick-off is fast approaching for what is expected to be an entertaining and competitive encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Villa arrive in north London with a point to prove, eight points behind Arsenal in the Premier League standings but still very much within reach of the Champions League spots. Newcastle United’s shock 4-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth has opened up the European race even more and Villa will be eager to take advantage.

A repeat of last season’s result at the Emirates would do Unai Emery nicely as the Villans stunned Arsenal with a 2-0 victory in April 2024. Goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins sealed a huge three points in Villa’s Champions League battle and had huge ramifications on the title fight as Manchester City capitalised.

Arsenal - with four wins and one draw in their last five league outings - are in the better form heading into this afternoon but only marginally. Villa have claimed 10 points out of their last 12 available, just three less than the Gunners in that period.

Emery, hoping for more of the same, has named just one change from the starting XI that beat Everton 1-0 on Wednesday, replacing Lucas Digne with Ian Maatsen. Rather notably, Jhon Duran remains on the bench in favour of Ollie Watkins and new signing Donyell Malen is among the substitutes.

The hosts, meanwhile, have swapped out three of their starters from the 2-1 north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur. William Saliba misses out through injury, so Jurrien Timber steps into the middle. Mikel Merino arrives in midfield while Gabriel Martinelli is introduced in attack. Here are the two teams in full.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa lineups

Arsenal XI: Raya (GK); Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.

Arsenal subs: Neto (GK), Tierney, Kiwior, Kacurri, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji.

Villa XI: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers; Tielemans, Watkins.

Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Gauci (GK), Bogarde, Nedeljkovic, Digne, Buendia, Bailey, Malen, Duran.