[Teams] Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups from Villa Park

Arsenal take on Aston Villa at Villa Park this evening as they continue the defence of their Premier League title.

The champions opened up the 2026/27 campaign with a routine 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry City. They will now be looking to secure victory in their first away game of the new season against former boss Unai Emery.

Unsurprisingly, Mikel Arteta has kept faith with the same team that started last time out. David Raya starts between the sticks once again while Riccardo Calafiori starts ahead of Piero Hincapie at left-back.

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are still on the sidelines so Cristhian Mosquera starts alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the middle of Arsenal’s defence. Ben White keeps his place at right-back so new signing Ezri Konsa has to settle for a place on the bench against his former club.

Bruno Guimarães is only fit enough for a place among the substitutes so Myles Lewis-Skelly keeps his place in the holding role. Declan Rice also starts once again while Martin Odegaard captains the Gunners once again tonight.

Bukayo Saka starts ahead of Noni Madueke on the right flank with Cristos Tzolis keeping his place on the opposite side of Arsenal’s attack. Gabriel Martinelli isn’t involved as he finalises a move away from the Emirates Stadium before Tuesday night’s deadline.

Kai Havertz was on the scoresheet against Coventry last time out and he keeps his place up front with Viktor Gyokeres on the bench. Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino are other options for Arteta but Max Dowman misses out on a place in the squad.

As for Villa, they hand a debut to Nicolas Jackson following his move from Chelsea. Zion Suzuki also makes his bow in goal while Ian Maatsen starts at left-back amid speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Aston Villa

Suzuki; Cash, Lindelöf, Pau, Maatsen; Kamara, Barkley; McGinn, Buendía, Hemmings; Jackson.

Subs: Bizot, Mings, Ruggeri, Garnacho, Abraham, Bogarde, Wan-Bissaka, Edward, Luka Lynch

Arsenal

Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, Konsa, Zubimendi, Guimarães, Merino, Eze, Madueke, Gyökeres.