Arsenal travel to Villa Park on Saturday evening in the Premier League for what promises to be one of the best games so far this season.
In recent weeks, Aston Villa have climbed up the Premier League table and after beating Manchester City 1-0 on Wednesday night, they are third and just four points behind Arsenal at the top. Both sides are in tremendous form and it is a clash that really could go either way.
Mikel Arteta has been dealing with injuries all season long and this game will not be any different, as Takehiro Tomiyasu is the latest player to pick up a problem that will see him remain out until the new year.
Here is the team that the Arsenal coach may choose when his side take on Aston Villa in the Premier League.
GK: David Raya – While he did not impress against Luton Town on Tuesday night, Raya is expected to remain in goal, rather than Aaron Ramsdale being brought back in.
RB: Ben White – Fans have enjoyed watching Tomiyasu at right-back recently but with the Japanese defender out injured, Ben White is expected to get that role back for the rest of the calendar year at least.
CB: William Saliba – He will not have been happy about shipping three goals away at Luton, but William Saliba would need to dramatically regress for Arteta to stop picking him.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes – Part of arguably the most settled defensive partnership in the Premier League, but there are lessons to learn from Luton.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – The Ukrainian is not having his best season but he is still the first-choice left-back at the club.
CM: Martin Odegaard – Demonstrated some of his excellent midfield awareness against Luton, Arsenal’s captain is going to need all of it and more against Villa on Saturday.
CM: Declan Rice – Having netted the late winner against Luton Town, Declan Rice is endearing himself to the Arsenal faithful. He can do so even more with another goal here.
CM: Kai Havertz – The German is building some form in this Arsenal team and his goal against Luton was very important. It showed what he can bring from the midfield for Arteta.
RW: Bukayo Saka – Another undroppable name for Arsenal, Saka will be looking to stay in form and fit before his first taste of Champions League knockout football.
ST: Gabriel Jesus – Often criticised for not scoring enough Premier League goals but he grabbed one against Luton and will be desperate to net again on Saturday.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – The Brazilian is doing a decent job of holding off the competition for this role, it is clear that Arteta views him as the best option in the long-term.
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