Aston Villa predicted line-up vs Arsenal: four changes made as Emery makes big Watkins and Martinez calls

Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday (12:30pm GMT) and will hope to continue their outstanding run of recent results when the Premier League leaders come to town.

Villa rose to third in the top flight after an enthralling 4-3 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, where Unai Emery’s side came from 2-0 down to secure victory against another in-form side in the division.

Emery made five changes for the mid-week encounter, which came just three days after Villa won 1-0 in the West Midlands derby against Wolves thanks to a Boubacar Kamara winner. And his side justified their selection as they fought back from a difficult start to go 3-2 up by the hour mark.

The Spaniard will therefore have some difficult selection decisions after another three-day turnaround, which ends with one of the toughest tests of them all. Victory against the Gunners and Villa would find themselves just three points off the top of the table.

Aston Villa predicted starting XI to face Arsenal - goalkeeper and defence

Emery was forced to change his goalkeeper in the warm-up on Wednesday after a reported back issue for Emiliano Martinez, meaning Marco Bizot stepped in at the very last moment for a rare start.

After an early calamitous moment for Brighton’s opening goal, where the Dutchman flapped at a corner and allowed fellow countryman Jean-Paul van Hecke to score at the far post, he grew into the game and made a stunning save at point-blank range from Danny Welbeck in the final moments. Martinez will hope to be back in contention to face his former side, and will be given the nod by Emery if he is match-fit. But Bizot has proven that he is capable of stepping into his shoes if needed.

Elsewhere, Ian Maatsen came in to replace Lucas Digne at left-back in midweek and put in a solid display, playing a role in Villa’s first goal. Maatsen will hope to retain his place but may find that Digne is rotated back into the XI for more defensive solidity against Arsenal. The rest of Emery’s back four was unchanged on Wednesday and will likely stay that way, amidst a lack of alternative defensive options available at present.

Aston Villa predicted starting XI to face Arsenal - midfield and attack

In midfield, Youri Tielemans was rotated to the bench on Wednesday and could return. The Belgian only recently returned from an extended injury lay-off, and Emery would not have wanted to risk him with three starts in a week. Amadou Onana put in a good display and even got himself on the score-sheet with a towering header to make it 3-2, so will hope to compete with Tielemans and Kamara for a starting berth on Saturday.

A major call by Emery in midweek was reinstating Ollie Watkins to the starting XI after he was dropped for the previous two matches. The time on the sidelines clearly paid off as the Englishman scored twice in the first half, including a clinical finish under pressure from three defenders, to get Villa right back into the game at 2-2. The 29-year-old has earnt another chance at a run in the side, though Donyell Malen will feel he has warranted a return with his recent performances in Watkins’ absence.

Behind the striker, Morgan Rogers and John McGinn will start as always. Evann Guessand was given a return to the side in midweek and will hope to keep his place, though the likes of Malen and Emiliano Buendia will be competing to return to the starting XI, as Villa boast strength in depth in attacking areas.

Full predicted starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.