Gabriel Magalhaes will make his long-awaited return to the Arsenal starting lineup when they welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates on Tuesday.
Arsenal will be eager to exact revenge on Aston Villa for the defeat earlier this month when they host Unai Emery’s men at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Mikel Arteta has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Arteta is sweating over the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber after the usual full-backs missed the game against Brighton & Hove Albion this past weekend. Since then, the Spanish tactician has not revealed why they were unavailable to take on the Seagulls.
Additionally, Cristhian Mosquera (ankle), Ben White (hamstring), Max Dowman (ankle), and Kai Havertz (knee) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta did not provide fitness updates on any players. However, he discussed the upcoming game against Aston Villa.
The Arsenal manager said, “We have a really tough match. We know their level, what they are doing, but it’s a beautiful game as well to prepare and play. They merit to be there. Look at what they are doing and how consistent they’ve been, and what Unai has done with the club. I think they fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.”
“We’ll watch it back. I have a few ideas and things that we have to do better. It was quite cruel as well, the way we lost it, but we’ll learn from it. If you use that motivation and that anger in the right manner, for sure.”
David Raya is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Aston Villa on Tuesday. The backline will feature Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie. Timber and Calafiori will start as the two full-backs if they are fit and available.
As for the midfield unit, Mikel Merino will start alongside Martin Zubimendi in the double pivot if Rice features as the right-back. Martin Zubimendi will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard being the two wide attackers. Finally, Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line for the home side against Aston Villa on Tuesday. So, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke will be among the backup options on the bench.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres
