Arteta makes 3 changes | Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Aston Villa as £34m star returns

Arsenal will be eyeing a fourth-straight Premier League win when they host Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium tonight.

The Gunners hold a slender two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the league standings, while they are only three points ahead of the Villans.

Tonight’s game against the Villans is a must-win as Pep Guardiola’s side have a superior goal difference and can go top with a victory at Sunderland.

Arsenal will be aiming to avenge the last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Villa Park earlier this month.

Ahead of the encounter, manager Mikel Arteta could make at least three changes to the starting XI.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Line-up:

David Raya has kept nine clean sheets during the league campaign. The Spaniard made a world-class save against Brighton & Hove Albion last time around to secure a victory for the Gunners. He is guaranteed to start between the sticks.

In the backline, we anticipate Gabriel Magalhaes to be reinstated alongside William Saliba in the heart of the defence after his injury return. Piero Hincapie could move to left-back with Myles Lewis-Skelly dropping to the bench. Hincapie has a better aerial and physical presence than the Gunners graduate.

Regular left-back Riccardo Calafiori picked up an undefined injury and was withdrawn during the warm-up last weekend. At right-back, we predict Jurrien Timber to be reinstated with Declan Rice moving into his familiar midfield role against the Villans.

Timber, who was signed for £34 million in 2023, was absent for the Brighton game after landing awkwardly in training. Ben White has an outside chance to make the squad, but we still fancy Timber to return to the XI, given his excellent fitness levels.

In midfield, it should be a familiar trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Mikel Merino should make way to the bench from the Brighton game. Further forward, Bukayo Saka should be a nailed-on starter on the right wing for the Gunners.

Gabriel Jesus is knocking on the door for his first league start since January, but Viktor Gyokeres should get the nod upfront due to his physical strength and ability to keep defenders occupied.

With Villa missing some key defenders such as Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings and Matty Cash, the Swede has the opportunity to get behind their high backline to find the back of the net tonight.

Leandro Trossard has four goal contributions in his last three games against Villa, but we still predict a change on the left wing. Gabriel Martinelli could get the nod over him and Eberechi Eze.

Eze’s lack of defensive awareness contributed to Cash’s opener at Villa Park. Martinelli is more suited for the game and should fancy his chances of beating the full-back on the left flank.

Villa are without Cash due to suspension. The Midlands outfit don’t have an experienced backup, and it could be either Lamare Bogarde or Andres Garcia starting on the right side of their defence.

How Arsenal could line up vs Aston Villa tonight

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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