Arsenal Visit to former boss Unai Emery and his Aston Villa The Gunners will face off in the return leg on Saturday 24 August at 17:30 (UK time). Below is the possible Gunners line-up:
GOALKEEPER – David Raya has clearly surpassed Aaron Ramsdale as the number one goalkeeper under Mikel ArtetaThe former Brentford goalkeeper will start in Birmingham and will be looking to continue his clean sheet following the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
DEFENDERS – Although the signing of Riccardo Calafiori has raised excitement levels among the Arsenal faithful, Arteta is unlikely to make any radical changes to his defensive line in what promises to be a challenging visit to a place they lost 1-0 to last December.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to keep his place with the 27-year-old chosen ahead of Calafiori at left-back, meaning the Italian will have to wait to make his full debut.
Ben White will start at right back while Guillermo Saliba He will start alongside Gabriel in the centre of Arsenal's defence. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are missing for Arteta.
An unchanged midfield and an unchanged attack
MIDFIELDERS – A minor injury to Fabio Vieira prevented him from playing against Wolves and he remains a doubt for this weekend. Thomas Partey started in midfield for the Gunners last time out and the former Atletico Madrid star could keep his place in the starting XI.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have become indispensable figures for Arsenal and will also start against Emery's men. Rice could start in a double pivot with Partey on paper, but would be given the license to play in attack, while Odegaard would be the attacking midfielder with freedom of movement.
Although Mikel Merino transfer The trip to Arsenal is almost over, the game against Villa could come too soon, so the Spaniard will have to wait to make his first appearance in a Gunners shirt.
FORWARDS – Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz were Arsenal's top scorers at the Emirates Stadium in their win over Wolves. Both are expected to keep their places in the starting XI on the right flank and in central attack respectively, while Gabriel Martinelli will complete the line-up unchanged on the left flank.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus He will have to settle for places among Arsenal's substitutes once again.
Here's how the Gunners could line up:
