Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and William Saliba will return to the Arsenal starting lineup when they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday.
Arsenal will aim to continue the excellent unbeaten run when they lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon. Mikel Arteta has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Cristhian Mosquera limped off with an ankle injury in the game against Brentford earlier this week. The summer signing may not be fit enough to take on Aston Villa this weekend. Additionally, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kai Havertz remain in the treatment room.
However, William Saliba should be fit enough to return against Aston Villa, while Declan Rice will likely have shrugged off a knock. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta provided fitness updates on Saliba, Mosquera, Rice, and Leandro Trossard.
The Arsenal manager said, “Well, let’s see. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we’ll decide which ones. It is a matter of days with those two [Saliba and Trossard], for sure. After the training session, we’ll know more.”
“That’s the more complicated one [Mosquera], but again, we have another test today to see where we are with them. We need to know, because the feeling that we had after the game and yesterday, we need to corroborate with what happens with all the testing that we do today.”
Arteta also discussed the packed festive schedule during his presser. The Arsenal boss said, “The only thing I can say is that whenever it’s possible to help and give the players an extra day or hours to fulfil the maximum potential, let’s do it. That’s it. We are ready for tomorrow’s game, that’s 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 Saturday. The backline will feature Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, and Riccardo Calafiori. Ben White will start instead of Saliba if the French international is not fit and available, with Timber moving into the centre-back berth.
As for the midfield unit, Declan Rice should line up alongside Martin Zubimendi in the double pivot, with Martin Odegaard reprising the no.10 role. Finally, Mikel Merino will lead the line for the away side against Aston Villa, with Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze being the two wide attackers.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Merino