Arsenal travel to Villa Park on Monday looking to continue a perfect start to the season, having won the Community Shield and beaten Coventry City 3-0 in their Premier League opener without conceding.
Mikel Arteta’s side could become the first in the club’s 140-year history to win five consecutive opening away fixtures of a Premier League season.
Arsenal team news
Jurrien Timber remains out with a groin issue, and William Saliba is a long-term absentee with a back problem. Bruno Guimaraes has a minor groin issue of his own but Arteta has not ruled him out of contention. New signing Ezri Konsa, who joined this summer from Villa, is available to face his former club but is expected to start on the bench given Arsenal’s settled defensive pairing.
David Raya is set to continue in goal behind a back four of Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães, Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori. Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard are expected to anchor midfield, with Martín Zubimendi the likely third member of the trio ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis, both of whom Arteta has used in wide areas that double as auxiliary full-back cover, are set to support Kai Havertz in attack, with both players having scored or contributed directly to goals in the win over Coventry.
Arsenal predicted lineup
Arsenal possible starting XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Rice, Ødegaard, Zubimendi; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis
When will the match kick off?
The Premier League match kicks off at 20:00 on Monday, 31 August 2026.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
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