Aston Villa vs Arsenal team news: Starting lineups confirmed for vital Premier League clash

Aston Villa and Arsenal have released their starting lineups for this afternoon’s Premier League fixture at Villa Park, which kicks off at 12.30pm. Having each suffered 3-1 defeats to Manchester City in their last outing, both sides will be eager to bounce back with a positive showing.

The Gunners were dealt a heavy blow to their title hopes as Pep Guardiola’s team got on the right end of a tight encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, whereas The Villans were unable to create too much of a threat as City had their mojo back in a thrashing at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday.

There will likely be an extra fire in the belly of Unai Emery today as he takes on his former side. The Spaniard spent 18 months with Arsenal between May 2018 and November 2019, guiding them to a fifth-placed finish in the English top tier.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal starting lineups and substitutes

It was touch-and-go whether Villa centre half Tyrone Mings would be available for today’s match or not, but he has been included in Emery’s starting XI. The 29-year-old, who signed a new contract on Friday, begins the game alongside Ezri Konsa at the heart of a back four.

Aston Villa starting XI vs Arsenal: Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Kamara, D. Luiz, McGinn, Coutinho; Buendia, Watkins.

Aston Villa substitutes vs Arsenal: Sinisalo (GK), Traore, Chambers, Young, Duran, Digne, Bailey, Dendoncker, J. Ramsey.

Arsenal starting XI vs Aston Villa: Ramsdale (GK), White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Nketiah.

Arsenal substitutes vs Aston Villa: Turner (GK), Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Kiwior, Smith-Rowe, Vieira, Nelson, Martinelli.