Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Confirmed team news as Timber, Partey and Saka start, no Jesus

Arsenal continue their charge for a first Premier League title in 21 years with a trip to face Aston Villa at Villa Park.

It was not a happy hunting ground for the Gunners last season as they suffered a 1-0 defeat that proved to be the beginning of a run of one win in five matches that arguably cost them the title.

The reverse fixture proved to be equally devastating. In fact, Arsenal’s only league loss in 2024 came as they hosted Unai Emery’s men at Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s men have been excellent at channelling past disappointments into superb performances in the past and they’ll be hoping to do that again here.

Gabriel Jesus is absent from the squad for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

The Brazilian had had a strong pre-season after missing out on large chunks of last season with injury. However, he has been struck by a groin problem that rules him out of today’s match at Villa Park.

That means that Kai Havertz continues in the number nine role. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are either side of him in the Arsenal front line.

Mikel Arteta makes two changes overall to his starting line up from last week’s 2-0 victory over Wolves. Jurrien Timber is in for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back.

Elsewhere Jakub Kiwior is back among the subs. The Polish international had been left out of the group for last week’s match with Wovles.

Fabio Vieira is absent from the squad. The Portuguese midfielder has agreed a loan deal to return to Porto for the remainder of the season. Ethan Nwaneri is in the squad instead, while fellow academy players Tommy Setford and Salah Oulad M’Hand have travelled with the group.

Eddie Nketiah is among the substitutes however. The England forward is edging closer to a £30million move to Nottingham Forest that could signal the arrival of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.

Arsenal starting XI vs Aston Villa – Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Jorginho, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Subs – Ramsdale, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nelson, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah