Premier League Team News and Prediction: Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Following disappointing defeats in midweek, Aston Villa and Arsenal go head-to-head in Saturday's early kick off in the Premier League in a bid to bolster their top six prospects.

While Villa were well beaten in truth against high-flying West Ham, the Gunners will feel hard done by given the circumstances of their defeat to Wolves, in complete control before a red card and penalty on the stroke of half time turned the game on it's head. However, having had two men sent off, Mikel Arteta will be forced into changes, while Dean Smith must surely be considering one or two, with eight players having started at least 19 of their 20 league matches to date.

When is kick off?
Saturday 6th February, 12:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Villa Park, Birmingham
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1

Form Guide

Despite their defeat in midweek, it's Arsenal that undoubtedly approach the game in better form having gone seven unbeaten in the league prior to the match against Wolves. Villa's deserved defeat was their fourth in six matches by comparison, with the team starting to look fatigued after a large number of the squad tested positive for coronavirus at the start of the year.

The Villans were very much on song in the reverse fixture, leaving the Emirates with a 3-0 win in November, following on from a 1-0 victory late on last season that ultimately ensured their Premier League survival. Nevertheless, the Gunners have the incentive of being able to leapfrog their hosts by exacting some revenge this weekend as the competition for European places looks fiercer than ever.

Team News

As far as the hosts are concerned, there are no fresh injury concerns of note, though Wesley is back in light training having spent over a year on the sidelines and a bit of competition for Ollie Watkins will be very welcome once the Brazilian is fit. Kortney Hause is still sidelined but would not have featured regardless, with two spots potentially up for grabs.

Anwar El Ghazi got the nod in midweek but was utterly anonymous and hooked at half-time, so Bertrand Traore may regain his place, though Trezeguet is also an option. Smith may look to give one of his midfielders a rest, with Ross Barkley arguably the prime candidate as Morgan Sanson awaits a full debut having made a cameo appearance from the bench in midweek.

As far as Arsenal are concerned they will be without both David Luiz and Bernd Leno through suspension after an unsuccessful appeal to record the former's red card against Wovles. Gabriel is likely to come in alongside Rob Holding, though Pablo Mari is nearing a return and could get the nod if fit, while Mat Ryan appears unlikely to recover from a hip injury in time to make a debut between the posts.

With that in mind Runar Alex Runarsson is likely to deputise in goal, with the enforced change coming at an ironic time given Emi Martinez will be lining up at the opposite end.

Elsewhere Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a return from the bench in the week and could start, with Martin Odegaard still awaiting a full debut. Kieran Tierney is less likely to recover from injury in time, however, so Cedric Soares should continue to deputise at left-back.

Possible Lineups

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Trezeguet, Sanson, Grealish; Watkins

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Runarsson; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Smith-Rowe, Aubameyang; Lacazette

Key Battle: Jack Grealish vs Bukayo Saka

Two England hopefuls for the summer's European Championships and look set to line up down the same flank in what should be an intriguing battle. We saw on Wednesday that doubling up on Grealish was effective for West Ham but Arteta is unlikely to deploy such a tactic, so just how much defensive work Saka and indeed Grealish put in to combat the threat of the other could prove decisive.

The Villa captain has been in sensational form all season and despite being kept comparatively quiet by his standards in the week, still managed to become the first Villa player since Ashley Young to register ten assists in a season, with 18 games still to play. Saka undersnatably can't boast the same output as yet but has been in fantastic form himself since the turn of the year, placing above Grealish in the WhoScored player form rankings heading into Saturday's clash.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal