Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Mikel Arteta brings Leandro Trossard in for Gabriel Martinelli as he shuffles his pack in a bid to end their poor form… and there’s still no return for Thomas Partey
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
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It’s a big game today, and even Hollywood royalty have popped in to see it.
Tom Hanks is at Villa Park and has been taking pictures with the players in the home dressing room.
It’s a pleasure to have you with us at Villa Park, @TomHanks! 🤝 #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/fKiqU5swcI
There is still a long way to go, but already fans will be looking ahead to how the season could pan out.
Sportsmail has taken a look at the key fixtures still to come, and where the title could be won and lost.
Graeme Souness has had his say on the title race and is concerned by what he’s seen over the last month from Arsenal, questioning the team’s nerves.
Can they keep it together today to go back to the top of the table?
It looks to be a pleasant day at Villa Park and the teams have arrived with kick-off now under an hour away.
In the building. 👊 #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/70v8Va4Bbp
Mings comes back into the starting line-up for Villa after injury, while Cash gets the nod over Young at right-back.
Introducing your Aston Villa team to face Arsenal. 👊 #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/UhpgLrs2mk
Arsenal make two changes to the side that lost to City, with White and Trossard coming in for Tomiyasu and Martinelli who drop to the bench.
Emile Smith Rowe is also back among the substitutes for the visitors, but Partey has not made the squad once again.
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚡️
🔙 White returns in defence
💪 Jorginho x Xhaka in midfield
🆕 Trossard makes first league start
Let's do this – together! pic.twitter.com/2JU8yPY7ph
We will find out today’s teams in just over 15 minutes as both sides look to return to winning ways.
Today’s match will kick off just 63 hours after Arsenal last played when they were beaten by Man City on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta feels that playing on Wednesday night and then Saturday lunchtime should be scrapped.
Will it force the Gunners boss into rotating his squad today to get some fresh legs on the pitch?
Emiliano Martinez looks set to start in goal for Villa today, but how much longer will he be at the club.
Villa may listen to offers for the World Cup winner this summer, with Emery set to have a big say on whether to sell him or not.
Man City may have wiped out Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table, but Pep Guardiola is still adamant that his team do not have momentum on their side in the title race.
Is he right, or are City now big favourites to defend their title?
Tyrone Mings signed a new long-term deal with Villa on Friday and he could return to the starting line-up today.
The England international missed last week’s defeat to Man City through injury but is back in training and pushing to go straight back into the team.
Mikel Arteta has claimed that most neutrals want Arsenal to win the league instead of Man City.
Right now, it couldn’t be much closer with just goal difference separating the two sides, although Arsenal do still have a game in hand.
Arsenal are coming up against a man that knows them well today, with former boss Unai Emery in the opposite dugout.
Emery was arguably treated harshly by the Gunners when he was sacked in 2019, and will be looking to get one over his former club.
Arsenal were eight points clear at the top last month, but are now below Man City on goal difference heading into today’s game.
Sportsmail has taken a look at the mounting problems for Mikel Arteta as he ponders over how to turn his side’s fortunes around.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today’s Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Kick-off is at 12:30, but we’ll have plenty of build-up for you before then.
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