Aston Villa assume Arsenal at Villa Park for the kick-off on Saturday night in what promises to be an enthralling top-of-the-table clash. Premier League table.
The Gunners were beaten both home and away by Villa last season, so Mikel Arteta will demand a more positive result as he seeks to finally win Manchester City To the title.
The Arsenal boss has made one change from the side that beat Wolves on the opening weekend, with Jurrien Timber recalled for his first start of the season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for most of the 2023/24 campaign.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is the man to step down as Timber come in at left-back. Ben White returns to the starting line-up at right-back for Arsenal. Guillermo Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue their impressive partnership in the middle of defence.
Thomas Partey keeps his place in midfield along with Declan Rice Jorginho will therefore remain on the bench. Martin Odegaard is once again the captain of the Gunners and will look to guide his troops to victory at Villa Park.
Gabriel Martinelli keeps his place on the left wing while Bukayo Saka He starts on the right flank after an impressive performance against Wolves where he recorded a goal and an assist.
Kia Havertz opened the scoring for Arsenal last weekend and the German retains his place in attack today. Gabriel Jesus is ruled out with a minor groin injury, while Fabio Vieira is not involved amid reports he is set to join Porto on loan.
However, Eddie Nketiah is an option off the bench today despite links to Nottingham Forest, while Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson are other attacking options for Arteta.
As for Villa, Emi Martinez will be looking to get one over on his former side again, while Ollie Watkins leads the line in attack with John McGinn and Leon Bailey offering support.
Here are the confirmed lineups:
Aston Villa
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; watkins
Substitutes: Gauci, Carlos, Maatsen, Nedeljkovic, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Duran, Ramsey
Arsenal
stripe; Blanco, Saliba, Gabriel, Wood; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Substitutes: Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah.
