Date: Saturday 9th December, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm
Stadium Villa Park
Referee Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Goal Scorer:
Aston Villa
After terrorising the beleaguered Citizens backline non-stop, Bailey's exertions caught up to him as he trudged off the field looking a little bit worse for wear, and it remains to be seen if the Jamaica international is risked from the first whistle versus the league leaders.
Thankfully for Emery, the Spaniard can call upon a fearsome like-for-like replacement in Moussa Diaby - a former transfer target of Arsenal's - but Bertrand Traore (muscle), Emiliano Buendia (knee) and Tyrone Mings (knee) will not be available for Saturday.
Alongside Diaby, Matty Cash was also overlooked for a place in the starting XI versus Man City, and Emery should see no need to alter his defensive formula after keeping the champions at arm's length in midweek.
The prospect of Diaby and/or Bailey running rings around the Arsenal backline has already led to some concern among Gooners, especially with the rejuvenated Takehiro Tomiyasu confirmed to be out for "a while" with the calf injury he sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Tomiyasu joins Emile Smith Rowe (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin), Thomas Partey (thigh) and Jurrien Timber (knee) in the infirmary, allowing Ben White to stake his claim for regular starts once more, and the Gunners have also been hit with a significant suspension blow.
Indeed, Arteta picked up his third yellow card of the season in the victory over Luton - allegedly for "excessively celebrating" Rice's injury-time winner - so the Gunners boss will not be on the touchline at Villa Park this weekend; Albert Stuivenberg will assume managerial duties on a temporary basis.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Diaby, Luiz, Kamara, McGinn; Tielemans; Watkins
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
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