ARSENAL travel to the fortress that is Villa Park for a thrilling Premier League encounter
The Gunners will be determined to reclaim top spot from Liverpool who snatched all three points from Crystal Palace in the early kick-off.
But with Mikel Arteta banned from the touchline and Villa unbeaten in 14 games at home, this promises to be tough.
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Gunners toughest test lies ahead
Given the run that Aston Villa are on at home, today offers a stern test of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Previously, their trip to Newcastle offered their hardest trip on the road so far this season, a game that they lost.
Today has the potential that an old manager could come back to haunt The Gunners.
Welcome to Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Fresh off the back of a huge win against Man City in midweek, Unai Emery welcomes his old employers to Villa Park as they look to cement their place in the top four.
Leon Bailey is a doubt for Villa today as he seemed to be struggling with fitness as he trudged off the pitch after their victory over Man City.
Aston Villa have the option to play Moussa Diaby in the hole he may leave, while Bertrand Traore, Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings all remain long term injury casualties for the hosts.
Matty Cash was on the bench for the midweek win and it is unlikely that the manager will change his defensive formula after keeping a clean sheet against the champions.
Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu who will be out for a while after he picked up a calf injury against Wolves on the weekend.
Arteta will also be without Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Viera, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber who all remain out injured.
The Arsenal manager will not be seen in the dugout this evening as he picked up his third yellow card of the season against Luton Town in midweek for ‘excessive celebrating’ after their 97th minute winner.
It will be down to the assistant manager, Albert Stuivenberg, to get Mikel Arteta’s visions across to the players this afternoon.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
