Arsenal have been on a roll this season and so far, they have picked up maximum points from their first four matches in the new Premier League season.
The Gunners have won nine of their last seven matches in the league and in these games, they have scored at least two goals. Next up, they take on Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in a midweek clash.
While Arsenal are undefeated this season, Aston Villa have lost three out of their first four matches and they are currently sitting 15th on the table. It will be very difficult for the away side to pick up anything from this game and with the kind of form that the Gunners are in right now, we don’t see them losing this one.
The North London side played their last game on Saturday and they will be back in action once again on Wednesday night so it won’t be a major surprise if the manager opts to rotate a few of his players.
Arsenal team news vs Aston Villa:
Zinchenko has been a major impact signing for the club but he’s ruled out with a knee injury so Kieran Tierney will hold onto his place on the left-hand side of defence.
It’s Ben White who has made the right-back place his own meaning Tomiyasu has to be content with a place on the bench.
Thomas Partey has been riddled with injuries ever since he moved to the Premier League and he’s suffered yet another setback – this time a thigh injury.
Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal in the Premier League this season:
6 chances created [🥇=]
3 shots on target [🥇=]
2 goals [🥇=]Arsenal’s key player. 🔑🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/pMLN9jeowk
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 27, 2022
It was Elneny who played alongside Granit Xhaka in the Fulham game and there’s a chance that these two will pair up in midfield once again. However, since Arsenal will only get a couple of days of rest, there’s also a chance that Lokonga comes into the side in place of Elneny.
Apart from these two positions, we don’t think Mikel Arteta will be eager to make any other changes unless there’s a late injury setback. Gabriel Jesus was a bit underwhelming last weekend but apart from that, he’s been terrific this season so there’s no way the manager is dropping him.
Zinchenko and Partey’s injuries are the only two headaches for the Arteta right now but still, Arsenal will be pretty confident that they will be able to pick up all three points from this match.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Aston Villa:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba; Xhaka, Elneny/Lokonga; Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli; Jesus.
UPDATE:
Just when things were getting better for Mikel Arteta, his team has been hit with another injury setback.
Thomas Partey is already out with an injury and now Elneny has also picked up a hamstring injury. As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, he sustained the injury during the Fulham game and the current buzz is suggesting that Elneny could be out for a long spell.
With both Partey and Elneny out, the Arsenal manager has no other option but to bring in Lokonga in central midfield alongside Granit Xhaka.
