Overview
- A 12:30 GMT kickoff at Villa Park will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports and via discovery+.
- Declan Rice told reporters he was fine after the Brentford win and is likely to feature, while Arsenal’s centre-back options are stretched with Cristhian Mosquera a major doubt and reports of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes sidelined.
- Unai Emery said Emi Martínez will be a last‑minute decision after the goalkeeper withdrew at Brighton with a back issue, with Marco Bizot having stepped in.
- Arsenal arrive unbeaten in 18 matches across competitions after a 2-0 victory over Brentford, whereas Villa have won six straight in all competitions following a 4-3 comeback at Brighton.
- The managerial subplot adds intrigue as Emery’s sides have troubled Arteta before, including Villa’s late 2-0 win at the Emirates in 2023–24 that influenced that season’s title race.