Aston Villa welcome reigning champions Arsenal to Villa Park on Monday night for the final fixture of Premier League gameweek two.
Unai Emery's rebuilt side require an immediate response after suffering a 4-0 defeat at Brighton on the opening weekend. Villa conceded four times inside 31 minutes before debutant Joao Gomes was dismissed, completing a damaging afternoon for a squad already weakened by injuries and several major summer departures.
Arsenal began their title defence with a controlled 3-0 victory over Coventry City. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored as Mikel Arteta's team followed their Community Shield win over Manchester City with another three-goal performance and clean sheet.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Key Stats
Aston Villa have lost four consecutive matches, scoring three goals and conceding ten
Villa conceded four times inside the opening 31 minutes of their defeat at Brighton
Arsenal have won four of their last five matches in all competitions
The Gunners have scored six unanswered goals across their last two competitive fixtures
The last five league meetings are evenly split, with two wins each and one draw
Photo Credit (Getty Images)
What to Expect
Villa must first restore their defensive shape after the collapse at Brighton. Joao Gomes is suspended, while Amadou Onana, Johan Manzambi, Leon Bailey, Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo are unavailable. Boubacar Kamara should anchor midfield alongside captain John McGinn, with new signing Leon Goretzka potentially making his debut from the bench.
Ollie Watkins has returned to training but remains an uncertain starter following his absence at Brighton and continued transfer speculation. If he is not selected, young striker George Hemmings could lead the line, supported by Emiliano Buendia, Ross Barkley and Alysson. Zion Suzuki is expected in goal following Emiliano Martinez's departure.
Arsenal should control possession through Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Bruno Guimaraes has resumed training and could make his league debut, while former Villa defender Ezri Konsa is available to face his old club. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber remain sidelined, but Arteta can retain the front four that started against Coventry, with Saka and Christos Tzolis supporting Havertz.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Alysson, Barkley, Buendia; Hemmings
Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz
Players to Watch
John McGinn - Villa's captain must provide the aggression and leadership missing at Brighton. His ability to protect the ball under pressure and drive through midfield will be important if the hosts are to escape Arsenal's press.
Leon Goretzka - The experienced German could make his Premier League debut after joining on a free transfer. His physicality, late penalty-area runs and Champions League experience offer Emery an immediate midfield solution.
Bukayo Saka - Saka opened his league account against Coventry and remains Arsenal's most reliable threat in one-against-one situations. His movement inside Maatsen should create shooting opportunities and space for Ben White to overlap.
Kai Havertz - Havertz scored Arsenal's first goal of the season and gives Arteta a focal point who can drop into midfield or attack crosses. Villa's new central-defensive partnership faces a difficult test against his intelligent movement.
Prediction
Prediction: Arsenal -1 Asian handicap @ 1.96
Villa Park has troubled Arsenal under Emery, but the hosts enter this match with a substantially weakened squad, no settled centre-forward and their principal summer midfield signing suspended. The 4-0 defeat at Brighton exposed serious problems defending transitions and protecting the penalty area.
Arsenal have started with consecutive 3-0 victories, possess greater midfield control and can introduce Guimaraes or Konsa without reducing their overall level. The Asian handicap returns the stake if Arsenal win by exactly one goal and pays in full if they prevail by two or more. A 2-0 Arsenal victory is the preferred scoreline.