Arsenal will host Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, January 18 as they look to erase memories of the corresponding fixture last season which ended in defeat, virtually erasing any hopes of winning the title.
Fast forward a year from that phase, the Gunners are now the chasing party in the title race, four points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game fewer than the Reds. They will look to continue their unbeaten streak in the Premier League since early November, when they fell 1-0 to Newcastle. The big 2-1 win against Tottenham last time out is also guaranteed to lift spirits at the Emirates Stadium.
However, an anterior cruciate ligament injury to Gabriel Jesus has ruled him out for the remainder of the season, with Arsenal now having just one recognized senior forward in Kai Havertz in their squad. They will have to regroup and also dive into the January transfer market in search of reinforcements. Simultaneously, Mikel Arteta will be expected to deliver results.
Will Arteta rotate his XI slightly to face Villa?
The back five will remain unchanged for the next game after they played exceptionally well against Spurs. David Raya will man the goalpost, with Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly in defence ahead of him.
Captain Martin Odegaard will start in midfield, and Arteta will likely rotate Jorginho and Partey, leaving the Italian alongside Declan Rice to complete the midfield trio.
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Up front, Leandro Trossard will get the nod after his match-winning performance against Tottenham. Kai Havertz will look to regain form as he is the only option up top, while Raheem Sterling will be dropped in favour of Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal lineup vs Aston Villa: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard (C), Jorginho, Rice; Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli.
