Arsenal will return to action on Saturday evening when they take on Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League.
The Gunners will head into the match against Unai Emery’s side on the back of a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in the North London derby.
The comeback victory over Spurs means that Arsenal are now second in the Premier League table with 43 points from 21 matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side are four points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, which means that it is imperative that the Gunners pick up all three points against Villa, managed by their former manager Emery.
How Arsenal could line up vs Aston Villa
David Raya will keep his place in goal and will Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly in front of him in defence.
Lewis-Skelly is only 18 and had a great game against Tottenham in the North London derby.
While Riccardo Calafiori would ideally play at left-back, he is a doubt for the match because of a muscle injury.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is unlikely to risk Calafiori against Villa. After all, Lewis-Skelly has shown that he can hold his own in the Premier League, and the Gunners also have a UEFA Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice will be the three midfielders. They have established themselves as regulars and are also fully fit.
Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard are likely to be the three forwards.
Raheem Sterling started against Tottenham, but the Chelsea-owned £350,000-a-week (SalarySport) winger failed to take the chance he was given.
It is very likely that Arteta will drop Sterling from the starting line-up and bring in Brazilian forward Martinelli in his place.
Predicted Arsenal XI
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
