Arsenal take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa this Saturday evening in what will be a test of their Premier League title aspirations before the end of 2023.
The Gunners grabbed a late 4-3 midweek win away at Luton Town to extend their title lead to four points, before Villa secured a fine 1-0 victory at home to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Both sides are in superb form ahead of their meeting at Villa Park with the hosts boasting a home record of seven Premier League wins from seven so far this season.
Emery has a key decision to make in the forward areas for Aston Villa, with Leon Bailey scoring in the last two matches having got the nod to start over Moussa Diaby.
It remains to be seen whether the Villa boss persists with Ezri Konsa at right-back, with Matty Cash an obvious option to come in should Konsa be shifted back to the centre of defence.
Emi Buendia, Bertrand Traore and Tyrone Mings remain out, but Villa did not appear to pick up any new injury problems against Man City.
Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is set to miss up to six weeks with a calf injury. Ben White can be expected to continue at right-back, while Oleksandr Zinchenko could return at left-back having been on the bench as Jakub Kiwior started against Luton.
There are otherwise not believed to be any fresh injury concerns for the Gunners, with Thomas Partey not expected back before Christmas and Jurrien Timber among the long-term absentees
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