Overview
- Kick-off is 8:15pm GMT at the Emirates, live on Sky Sports in the UK and on NBC/Peacock in the US.
- Arsenal top the table and Villa arrive on an 11-match winning run in all competitions, with a victory taking Unai Emery’s side level on points after their late 2-1 win in the reverse fixture.
- Villa are without Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash through suspension, with Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley sidelined and Evann Guessand away on AFCON duty.
- Arsenal’s defense remains patched up after fresh knocks to Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, though Gabriel returned against Brighton and Declan Rice has covered at right-back.
- Arteta said the club will be “actively looking” at January options and acknowledged concern over Viktor Gyokeres’ scoring drought, as Villa executive Damian Vidagany publicly criticized the festive schedule that gives his side two away games in 72 hours.