Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set for a series of critical selection decisions as his high-flying side prepare to host Premier League leaders Arsenal this Saturday. The match at Villa Park, kicking off at 12:30pm GMT, represents one of Villa's toughest tests this season, coming after a dramatic mid-week victory.
Emery's Selection Headache After Brighton Thriller
The Spaniard's squad is riding a wave of momentum following an enthralling 4-3 comeback win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night. Having fallen 2-0 behind, Villa's character shone through to secure a vital three points, a result that propelled them to third in the Premier League table. This victory came just three days after a hard-fought 1-0 West Midlands derby win against Wolves.
Emery made five changes for the Brighton trip, a move fully vindicated by the result. However, with another demanding three-day turnaround culminating in facing the Gunners, the manager must again weigh up fitness and tactical options. A victory would see Aston Villa close the gap to the summit to just three points, adding immense significance to his team selection.
Goalkeeper and Defence: Martinez Fitness in Focus
The most immediate concern surrounds goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was a late withdrawal before the Brighton game due to a reported back issue. His replacement, Marco Bizot, endured a shaky start but made a crucial late save to preserve the win. Emery will be desperate to have his first-choice stopper available against his former club, but Bizot has shown he can deputise if needed.
In defence, Ian Maatsen performed well at left-back in midweek, but Lucas Digne could be recalled for greater defensive solidity against Arsenal's potent attack. The rest of the back four—Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, and Pau Torres—are expected to remain unchanged given the lack of current alternatives in defensive positions.
Midfield and Attack: Watkins Earns His Recall
Emery's boldest call against Brighton was reinstating striker Ollie Watkins to the starting line-up after he was dropped for the previous two matches. The decision paid spectacular dividends as the England international scored twice in the first half, including a superb finish under pressure, to drag Villa back into the contest.
His match-winning contribution has surely earned him another start, though Donyell Malen will feel hard done by after impressing in Watkins' absence. In midfield, Youri Tielemans is likely to return after being rested on the bench, competing with the goal-scoring Amadou Onana and the ever-reliable Boubacar Kamara for a starting berth.
Morgan Rogers and captain John McGinn are virtual certainties to start in advanced roles, but the final attacking position is up for grabs. Evann Guessand featured last time out, but Malen and Emiliano Buendia provide Emery with strong options from the bench, highlighting Villa's impressive attacking depth.
Full Predicted Starting Line-Up
Unai Emery is predicted to revert to a more experienced line-up for this crucial fixture, making four changes from the side that started at Brighton. The expected 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.
This selection reflects the need for a blend of resilience and attacking threat against the league's best side. All eyes will be on Villa Park this Saturday lunchtime to see if Emery's big calls can propel his team to a statement victory.
