January 16th 2025.
Arsenal is determined to put pressure on Liverpool, who is currently at the top of the table. After their impressive win in the north London derby, the Gunners are looking to continue their momentum as they face Aston Villa in the Premier League this Saturday.
Manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with his team's hard-fought 2-1 victory against Tottenham, which ended their three-game winless streak. The draw between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest has now brought Arsenal just four points away from the league leaders.
However, their upcoming match against Aston Villa will not be an easy one, and the Gunners have little time to rest and prepare. Injuries continue to plague the team, with striker Gabriel Jesus being the latest casualty. He suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his knee, which will keep him out for a significant amount of time. This adds to Arsenal's existing issues in the attacking third, with Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri still recovering from their respective injuries.
In the absence of these players, Raheem Sterling has stepped up and started in the last two games on the right wing. He is expected to make his third consecutive start against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli may return to the starting lineup after being benched in the previous match, and Kai Havertz is likely to lead the line as Arsenal continues to search for striking reinforcements in the transfer window.
Despite no major injuries in the central midfield, Arteta may choose to stick with the same trio that started against Tottenham. The defence is also expected to remain unchanged, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White still recovering from their injuries. Youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has impressed since breaking into the first team this season, will continue to deputize at left-back in the absence of Riccardo Calafiori.
There were concerns about Jurrien Timber's fitness after he was substituted early in their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, but he played the full 90 minutes against Tottenham and is expected to start against Aston Villa.
The predicted lineup for Arsenal against Aston Villa is Raya in goal, with Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Lewis-Skelly in defence. Odegaard, Partey, and Rice in midfield, with Sterling, Havertz, and Martinelli leading the attack.
For those looking to watch the match, it will be televised live on Sky Sports and Sky Go in the United Kingdom, with coverage starting at 5pm. The kick-off time is 5.30pm on Saturday, January 18.
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