The Gunners boss has been missing key players including Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori of late – but despite that they have emerged as the leading contenders to Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Those credentials will be put to the test at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta praising Villa and Unai Emery who themselves enjoyed an important midweek victory as they close in on the top four.
When asked about Arsenal’s team news Arteta didn’t reveal much: “We have a few decisions to make this afternoon with the medical staff to understand whether they are in the best condition for this game or the next one, so we'll decide that.”
He was more effusive about Villa and Unai Emery, though, as he looks to complete the double over his compatriot this season, after August’s 2-0 win at Villa Park.
“We're going to try to be as good as we possibly can tomorrow night, that's the objective,” Arteta said. “They are a really good side, that's why they beat us last season and proved as well when we played at Villa Park that they are very difficult opponents, so we'll prepare in the best way to win.
“We know the difficulty of the team that they are, that’s why they’re performing so well. They have an excellent coach, very good players, really good organisation and we are so used to that in the Premier League. It’s not very different every three days so tomorrow we’re going to have to be really good again to win the game.”
Arteta was pleased with the way his team responded to going behind against Tottenham: “It’s very good. They were really happy in the dressing room, really happy the next day and then we started with Villa, that’s it.
"The enjoyment or the bad mood that we can be in when you don’t win, it has to disappear immediately because the focus has to be on the next match and how we prepare in the best possible way.”
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