Arsenal, fresh from their North London derby win, will take on the last side that left the Emirates Stadium with three Premier League points.
Aston Villa are currently seventh in the table, having beaten Everton and Leicester City in their last two league games, along with West Ham in the FA Cup.
TBR Football looks at who Mikel Arteta could name in the Arsenal starting XI for the game against Unai Emery’s side.
Gabriel and William Saliba of Arsenal speak during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on Septembe...
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Arsenal v Aston Villa team news
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori remains a doubt after missing the past few games with a muscle complaint.
Gabriel Jesus is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after it was confirmed he has an ACL injury.
Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury, Ethan Nwaneri is nursing a groin issue, and Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both out with knee injuries.
As for Aston Villa, John McGinn is set to miss the Arsenal game with a hamstring issue, while Ross Barkley is out with a calf injury and Pau Torres and Diego Carlos are long-term absentees.
Jhon Duran returned from suspension against Everton, while Emiliano Martinez was back between the posts after what Emery described as a “small problem”.
Saturday 18th January
Aston Villa
Arsenal predicted XI v Aston Villa
Arsenal are unlikely to make many changes for the meeting against Villa.
David Raya is set to start in goal, and there’s a good chance the back line will be mostly the same as the one that took on Tottenham.
This would mean Jurrien Timber at right-back, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back, though Arteta has a decision to make at left-back.
However, we feel Calafiori will return to the XI, the £42million man giving the Hale End graduate a rest.
The midfield is likely to be the same as the one that took on Tottenham, namely Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice.
As for the front line, we feel Arteta will opt to take Raheem Sterling out of the XI and name Gabriel Martinelli on the right side of attack.
Kai Havertz is likely to lead the line, while Leandro Trossard could retain his spot on the left.
Arsenal predicted starting XI v Aston Villa
Arsenal predicted XI v Aston Villa (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
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