Aston Villa host Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday, with Villa bottom of the table without a point after a 4-0 opening-day defeat at Brighton and Arsenal top after a 3-0 win over Coventry City.
The game also brings Ezri Konsa back to Villa Park for the first time since his summer move to Arsenal, a transfer reported at around £50-55 million.
Arsenal have won each of their last four opening away fixtures of a Premier League season and could make it five in a row for the first time in the club’s 140-year history. Villa Park has not always been kind to them this decade; Arsenal have won three and lost four of their last seven visits, including a defeat during last season’s title-winning campaign.
Jarred Gillett, the referee for Monday’s game, was also in charge of the previous meeting between these sides at this ground, a fixture remembered for a disallowed Arsenal goal and a penalty appeal against Douglas Luiz that was turned down.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news
Date: Monday, 31 August 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Last meeting: Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa, 30 Dec 2025, Premier League
Team news
Aston Villa
Leon Bailey, Amadou Onana (knee), Johan Manzambi (knee) and Brian Madjo (ankle/foot) are all unavailable, and Joao Gomes is suspended. Tammy Abraham is a doubt with a groin/hip issue. New signings Zion Suzuki, Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson are all in line to make their Villa debuts, with Goretzka, who arrived on Thursday, expected to replace the suspended Gomes in midfield.
Arsenal
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 has not been ruled out by Arteta. New signing Ezri Konsa is available to face his former club but is more likely to start on the bench given Arsenal’s settled defensive options.
Form
Aston Villa
Unai Emery’s side endured a chastening opening weekend, managing just 27 per cent possession and no shots on target in the defeat at Brighton. The summer has brought significant turnover, with Ollie Watkins among the departures and several new faces set to make their first appearances. Villa have, however, won each of their last three Premier League home games against the reigning champions, having beaten Manchester City in the two seasons prior and Liverpool last season.
Arsenal
Arteta’s side have made the perfect start to the campaign, winning the Community Shield and their Premier League opener without conceding, taking their run to two wins from two competitive games this season. The head coach became the fifth-quickest manager to reach 150 Premier League wins earlier this month. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all scored in the win over Coventry.
Predicted lineups
Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Cash, Lindelöf, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Buendía, Hemmings; Jackson
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Gabriel, Mosquera, Calafiori; Rice, Ødegaard, Zubimendi; Saka, Havertz, Tzolis
How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Read more – Alonso wants players with ‘desire to play’ as Fernandez speculation rises
See also – Man United ‘unlikely’ to make more signings before deadline