[Teams] Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Confirmed line-ups as key Gooner ruled out

Arsenal will look to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League tonight with a win over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners maintained their two-point lead over Manchester City with a 2-1 win over Brighton this weekend. They will now hope to extend their lead with a win tonight to pile pressure on City ahead of their trip to Sunderland on Thursday.

Mikel Arteta has made two changes from the squad that started on Saturday, but David Raya is among those to keep his place as the Spaniard starts between the sticks again tonight.

There is a reshuffle in defense as Declan Rice – who started at right-back on Saturday – has been ruled out with a knee injury, but Jurrien Timber is fit to return tonight. Ben White is also back in the squad and has been named as one of Arsenal’s substitutes.

Gabriel Magalhaes made a successful return from injury last weekend and is fit to start alongside William Saliba against Villa. Piero Hincapie therefore moves to left back in the absence of Riccardo Calafiori.

Martin Zubimendi will start again in the holding role for Arsenal, while Mikel Merino will retain his place in midfield. Captain Martin Odegaard also starts so Eberechi Eze has to make do with a place among the subs.

Bukayo Saka starts on the right flank ahead of Noni Madueke, while Leandro Torssard is once again favored ahead of Gabriel Martinelli on the left of Arsenal’s attack.

Kai Havertz returns to the squad after recovering from a knee injury he sustained during the opening game of the season. He sits on the bench, while Viktor Gyokeres keeps his place up front.

As for Villa, Emi Martinez starts against his former club, while Ollie Watkins comes in as a forward after coming off the bench to score twice against Chelsea last time out.

John McGinn is only chosen on the bench, while Jadon Sancho and Emi Buendia start alongside Morgan Rodgers.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Arsenal

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Havertz, Jesus.

Aston Villa

Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne; See Tielemans; Sancho, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Maatsen, Garcia, Routh, Hemmings, McGinn, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba