Arsenal predicted XI vs Aston Villa as Ezri Konsa call made amid five decisions
Ezri Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against Aston Villa(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal take on Aston Villa in their second match of the Premier League season, looking to make it six points from six after their opening day drubbing of Coventry City. Villa were humbled even more greatly after shipping four goals at Brighton.
Mikel Arteta, however, knows the challenge persists despite their opponents having lost several players such as Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa, the latter of whom could make his debut against his old club. Ollie Watkins is set to leave the club and join Al Hilal, where Gabriel Martinelli is also expected to join, while Nicolas Jackson is believed to have been signed in time to play a part in the fixture.
The Gunners are in great shape and could be buoyed by the return to fitness of Bruno Guimaraes, while Jurrien Timber is also getting closer each week. With Chelsea to come the following weekend, there is certainly pressure on the Gunners to keep momentum high.
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Here is how football.london predicts Arsenal will set up:
First clean sheet of the season in the back pocket as the Spaniard targets a record-equalling fourth consecutive Golden Glove award.
Timber still not ready, and even when he is, the Dutchman will face a tough time displacing Ben White who has been fantastic this summer.
Despite the arrival of Ezri Konsa, the Spaniard was the better of the two centre-halves against Coventry and deserves to keep his place.
Perhaps a trickier test to come this week for the Brazilian who was ousted on occasion by Simms and will need to be stronger.
The Italian has been brilliant and seems to have found his fitness now which bodes well for the season and the left wing.
With Guimaraes still missing Rice will be expected to start in the six role again which could indeed become where he stays during the campaign.
Arteta was finally unequivocal about the midfielders future and shut down all the noise surrounding any potential exit.
Great start to the new season with a goal in the Community Shield and on the opening day, he can beat his tally for the last league season with a goal in the West Midlands.
Another player targeting a big campaign too and who got off to a scoring start will look to repeat the feat against Villa.
With talk of Julian Alvarez dominating the headlines, the German centre-forward is fighting to maintain his starting spot and did so perfectly by scoring on the opening day.
The man of the moment and the player most people are excited to see featured. He might’ve been happy to pick up points in Fantasy Football last week, but he’ll want a goal contribution on the board for real this time around.
Tom Canton joined football.london as the Arsenal Fan Brand Writer and Presenter before becoming a permanent Arsenal Reporter in 2025. Tom produces plenty of analytical content in addition to breaking stories and is a regular attendee at matches and press conferences. Can also be found on YouTube @TheGoonerTalkTV
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