Arsenal v Aston Villa – Team News & Predicted Line-up

Arsenal will play host to Aston Villa at the Emirates this evening, but we have some question marks over the fitness of some of our players.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta admitted on Thursday morning that wonderkid Bukayo Saka hadn’t trained with the squad following his malicious foul by James Macarthur on Monday evening, but he has since been spotted in training.

The manager did state that one or two others were also struggling following that physical battle with Crystal Palace, but didn’t name them by name, leaving us out of the loop on those, while we are already aware that Granit Xhaka remains out for the long-term, and is still well over a month away from a return.

Predicted Arsenal XI to take on Villa:

Ramsdale
Tomiyasu White Gabriel Tierney
Smith Rowe Partey Odegaard
Pepe Lacazette Aubameyang

I feel like the Frenchman has done enough to convince Arteta that he is worthy of a start this evening, and Saka’s issues could well allow him to return without changing too much within dynamics of the team, although I would much prefer to see Bukayo on the right ahead of Pepe personally.

Auba should have no issue with giving up the central role to return to the wing where he has scored the majority of his Arsenal goals, and judging by Laca’s showing on Monday, he will be working hard as he looks to cement his place in Arteta’s first-team plans.

Do you think the manager could name an unchanged XI tonight if Saka does prove ready to start?

Patrick

Tags Arsenal v Aston Villa Aston Villa

12 Comments

    1. It’s a better tactics to use. DM that can really cover the defense. In that case I suggest Pathey and AMN for his quickness and physicality. Lacazette is also needed in this kind of game. But it all depends on Arteta tactics.

  1. Agree with GOI
    I would LIKE to see
    Ramsdale
    Tomi White Gabriel TAVARES
    Partey Lokonga/AMN
    Ode
    Saka Laka ESR
    Early sub Martinelli
    Not one freeloader there – they will all put in a shift
    If Saka out Pepe/Martinelli in
    But I expect to see Tierney and Auba selected – both of whom are being given an indefinite amount of time by our “I judge on recent form and training performance” manager” to regain form they haven’t had all season, at the expense of Tavares, Laca and Martinelli. Not sure what more these guys have to do to start a game!

  2. I would glad see Martinelli in for Pepe, Pepe caused a lot of issues for Tomiyasu,
    Also would love Tavares in.

    Tomiyasu-white-Gabriel-Tierney

    Smith-Rowe-Partey-Lokonga/Tavares

    Saka-Lacazette-Aubameyang

    1. Not instead of Pepe all you calling him last season even though he got 16 goals and umpteen assists, he is way better than Saka who seems to jump ahead of everyone, he’s flat footed and spends most of his time on the floor perhaps he will be out for a few weeks and Lacazette may start, as he’s one of our strongest physicle players

  3. In the absents of Xhaka and Saka in this our Premier League match at home against Aston Villa, What of if Arsenal adopt the 442 playing formation style to start the match tonight? And start the game in the starting order of my bellow starters. Which I think and believe if Arteta do it, it’ll lead to us beating Aston Villa to the collection of all the points that’ll be at stake in the match,

    My starts:

    Ramsdale;
    Tomiyasu White Maglhaes Tcvierney;
    AMN Partey ESR Pepe;
    lacazette Aubameyang.,

  4. In the absents of Xhaka and Saka in this our Premier League match at home against Aston Villa, What of if Arsenal adopt the 442 playing formation style to start the match tonight? And start the game in the starting order of my bellow starters. Which I think and believe if Arteta do it, it’ll lead to us beating Aston Villa to the collection of all the points that’ll be at stake in the match,

    My starts:

    Ramsdale;
    Tomiyasu White Maglhaes Tierney;
    AMN Partey ESR Pepe;
    lacazette Aubameyang.,

  5. I am not an expert but what will it take MA to try Chambers as a DMF?
    I believe using a DM whose work is to retrieve the ball and give it to someone like Partey to progress will ensure everyone focuses on what they do best.
    Xhaka, Partey, AMN and Sambi are not DMs.
    Look at Fabinho for Liverpool, Ndidi for Leicester,
    Kovacic and Jorginho for Chelsea. They are not concerned with long range passes or final passes. Just to get the ball back and let the attackers do their job.
    This is same reason Man Utd are worse when Fred and McTominay are not playing.
    Wenger’s best teams had that kind of player.
    Gilberto during the Invincibles and Flamini for that 2008 team.
    We’ve not had a proper standing DM ever since then

  6. Ramsdale
    White, Holding,Gabriel
    AMN,Partey,Lokonga, Tierney,
    Martinelli, Lacazette, Auba.

    On the assumption that Saka is unfit.Holding to combat the Villa threat from set pieces. ESR and Tomi need a rest.We should match up the Villa 3-4-3 system on this occasion, as we simply failed to control the midfield against Brighton and Palace.

  7. Arteta should revert to a back three..
    In as much as Tomi is much loved and talked about am still yet to see what he is offering..

    Ramsdale
    White Gabriel Tierney
    Niles Lokonga Partey Tavarez
    Odegaard Lacazette Aubameyang

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