Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE!
Declan Rice starts as Arsenal face another key fixture in the Premier League this lunchtime. The Gunners head to Villa Park hoping to increase their five-point lead in the title race, having bounced back from a frustrating draw with 10-man Chelsea by easing past Brentford in midweek. Mikel Arteta also has Leandro Trossard available as he restores Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze to his XI, though William Saliba is still sidelined and Cristhian Mosquera looks set for a spell out.
Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez is battling to be fit for Villa, who begin the day in third place after a dramatic 4-3 triumph over Brighton continued their recent run of rich form that has seen them win six games in a row across all competitions. A statement victory for the hosts this afternoon would see them rise into second place and just three points off top spot, with Manchester City hosting Sunderland later on Saturday.
Unai Emery would surely love nothing more than to get revenge on the club that sacked him back in 2019, paving the way for Arteta’s north London revolution. Follow Aston Villa vs Arsenal live below!
Aston Villa vs Arsenal latest news
- Kick-off time: 12.30pm GMT, Villa Park
- How to watch: TNT Sports
- Aston Villa team news: Martinez fit as Tielemans comes in
- Arsenal team news: Rice starts but still no Saliba
- Score prediction
Kick-off approaching
12:24 , George FloodFinal preparations at Villa Park, the ground where Arsenal have notched their joint-most Premier League away wins (15, tied with Selhurst Park, per Opta Sports).
Will they produce another this lunchtime to go eight points clear at the top, before Manchester City face Sunderland later on?
Aston Villa fans in confident mood
12:18 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Villa Park
A bold prediction from a young Villa fan, when asked by the PA announcer what the score will be today:
"10-0 to Villa, and Ollie Watkins to score all of them."
Arsenal defence stretched as injuries continue to mount
12:03 , George FloodHere’s more from Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings at Villa Park, with the Gunners’ defensive options seriously depleted now.
In other news, the return of Martin Odegaard in the middle means Eberechi Eze is out wide...
🗣️ "A sixth different centre-back pairing for Arsenal this season as injuries continue to pile up."@sr_collings reacts to that Arsenal team news at Villa Park, where their defence looks stretched
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) December 6, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/wYhFezDjc9#AFC | #AVLARS pic.twitter.com/xgD91cZway
Another new Arsenal centre-back pairing
11:57 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Villa Park
I make this Arsenal's sixth different centre-back partnership to start a game this season in what is their 22nd match of the campaign:
Gabriel + Saliba
Gabriel +Mosquera
Saliba + Mosquera
Hincapie + Mosquera
Hincapie + Timber
Hincapie + Saliba
Salmon on bench as Gyokeres nurses broken finger
11:49 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Simon Collings at Villa Park
Marli Salmon - who turned 16 at the end of August - on the bench, such are Arsenal's injury issues.
Viktor Gyokeres a sub, too. He has had a broken finger, but strapped it up for Brentford game and trained with it yesterday.
Martinez fit for Arsenal reunion as Villa draft in Tielemans
11:38 , George FloodThe big news for Aston Villa is that Emi Martinez has shaken off that back injury to start against his former club.
He replaces Marco Bizot in goal.
The only other change from Wednesday night’s thrilling 4-3 win over Brighton sees Youri Tielemans replace Evann Guessand.
Young goalkeeper Ronnie Hollingshead is replaced on the bench by teenage midfielder George Hemmings.
Gabriel Jesus set for Arsenal U21 friendly against Manchester United
11:31 , George FloodArsenal explain the absence of Gabriel Jesus from their matchday squad at Villa Park...
“Gabriel Jesus and Max Dowman have travelled with the under-21s for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United at St George’s Park as they look to build up their match fitness.”
Rice starts for Arsenal as Trossard returns but no Saliba
11:28 , George FloodSo Declan Rice is fit to start for Arsenal today after all, with Leandro Trossard on the bench.
There is still no William Saliba though, with Jurrien Timber partnering Piero Hincapie at centre-back with Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel also out, and Ben White on the right of defence.
16-year-old academy centre-back Marli Salmon is on the bench.
The fit-again Martin Odegaard starts for the second game in a row, while Mikel Merino leads the attack once more ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, who will have a broken finger strapped up.
He is flanked by Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, who both return to the starting lineup after a rest in midweek at the expense of Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
No Gabriel Jesus in the squad.
Aston Villa lineup
11:18 , George FloodAston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Maatsen, Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Sancho
Arsenal lineup
11:17 , George FloodArsenal XI: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino
Subs: Kepa, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres
Rice and Trossard with Arsenal squad - no Saliba?
11:12 , George FloodWhispers on X now that William Saliba is not with the Arsenal squad today.
However, in better news it looks like Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are both fit having been pictured arriving at Villa Park.
Lineups on the way...
Will Merino continue to lead Arsenal attack?
11:07 , George FloodWe should be getting the official lineups from Villa Park very soon.
Another big question for Arsenal is - will Mikel Merino continue to lead the attack with Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus both back fit?
The midfielder has again excelled as an emergency option up top, scoring once again in midweek.
And Mikel Arteta admitted yesterday that Merino could carry on in that role even with Arsenal’s strikers available for selection.
“I think he has earned at least the thinking behind it with the way he’s performing and the impact that he’s bringing to the team, so that’s a yes,” he said.
“Yeah [Merino has grown into the position], and they are playing together, even with Viktor, it can be with Gabi [Jesus], and there are things that we have prepared during the summer because of the squad that we have, and so far we haven’t been able to do.”
Arteta hails Arsenal deals for Edwin and Holger Quintero
11:02 , George FloodSpeaking of transfers, earlier this week Arsenal confirmed a double deal for 16-year-old Ecuadorian twins Edwin and Holger Quintero.
They are two of the most highly-rated young players in South American football and will join from Independiente del Valle - the club that also produced current Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie and Chelsea superstar Moises Caicedo - when they turn 18 in the summer of 2027.
Mikel Arteta believes it is proof that Arsenal are capable of signing the “best talent” out there.
“Well, there is certainly something that I think is very positive,” said Arteta.
“I mean, we can recruit the best talent that is out there.
“Obviously the rules and the limitation that the league provides in relation to using them before a certain age, it is a challenge.
“But we saw that as a good opportunity for us and if we are ahead, I think that’s something very positive.
“For me, the first intention obviously has to be to develop our own players in-house, but that doesn’t mean that you have to close any doors for any talent that we have.
“That goes for players and it goes as well to staff I think.”
Arteta makes Arsenal transfer admission as injury woes continue
10:57 , George FloodThere was plenty of ground covered by Mikel Arteta at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, including an admission that Arsenal would be “open” and “alert” to potential new signings in the January transfer window amid ongoing injury woes that are not adversely impacting their title push due to that new-found squad depth.
“We always have to be prepared,” he said.
“I mean, the moment that we have an option to touch the squad, to bring to the squad or to protect the squad, depending on what happens, I think we need to be open, for example, one what’s going to happen from here till the window is closed as well, it's football.
“So we don’t know, but we’re certainly going to be alert and we know where the risk can come in terms of the squad, and be ready just in case we have to do something.”
However, those aforementioned fitness issues mean Arsenal are not currently in a position to let anyone leave next month.
“At the moment, obviously, we haven't had a situation, as we mentioned before, where players are out of the squad for three or four weeks in a row,” Arteta said.
“At the moment, we know that the squad we have, we are full-framing with the players that are fit. So, at the moment, it's very clear that there's no option to do that.”
Arteta: Emery won't be 'extra' motivated by Arsenal revenge
10:48 , George FloodToday’s game at Villa Park of course also sees Unai Emery go up against the club that sacked him in November 2019, only 18 months after he was appointed as the ideal man to lead the post-Arsene Wenger era at Arsenal.
That led to the appointment of Mikel Arteta, who has evolved the Gunners into Premier League title favourites while Emery has bounced back superbly at Villa.
Does Arteta believe his opposite number and compatriot will have any extra motivation against Arsenal?
“I don't know,” he said yesterday. “I think when you look at Unai, his career, his motivation level, everywhere he’s had an impact, it's all been remarkable.
“So I don't know, that's a question for him. But in my opinion, he never needs anything extra. I think he's good enough in himself.”
Arsenal in third kit against Aston Villa
10:40 , George FloodAn early peek inside the Arsenal dressing room, with the Gunners set to don their white third shirts this afternoon against Aston Villa’s claret and blue...
Emery has faith in Bizot if Martinez misses Arsenal reunion
10:36 , George FloodThere was no Emi Martinez in the training pictures posted by Aston Villa from Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon.
So it could well be Marco Bizot in goal again for Unai Emery’s side today.
He conceded three in the seven-goal thriller at Brighton in midweek and made a blunder for Jan Paul van Hecke’s opener, but also made some solid saves including a fine stop to deny Danny Welbeck a last-gasp equaliser.
“We will train this afternoon, he didn’t train yesterday, but it’s very important for him, how he is passing the hours feeling better,” Emery had said of Martinez earlier on Friday.
“Until the last moment, I don’t know if he’s going to be available or not for tomorrow.”
On Bizot, Emery said after the win over Brighton: “Of course, we have Marco, who is a fantastic guy.
"A fantastic professional who has accepted his role. He knew his role when he started here, but to be second to Martinez is not easy.
"And he's always available, awaiting his moment. And he performed fantastically."
Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings has arrived at Villa Park, for my money one of the very best old stadiums in the country.
We await to hear if the likes of Declan Rice, William Saliba, Leandro Trossard and Emi Martinez have done likewise...
At Villa Park for Aston Villa v Arsenal
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) December 6, 2025
3rd v 1st in the Premier League pic.twitter.com/zmtQjHgcMg
Arsenal 'fears' over 'complicated' Mosquera injury blow
10:23 , George FloodA big new concern for Arsenal is the injury to summer signing Cristhian Mosquera, who was hurt in an awkward landing after challenging Brentford’s Kevin Schade for a header shortly before half-time on Wednesday night.
“That's the one that is more complicated,” Mikel Arteta said on his fellow Spaniard on Friday.
“But again, we have another test today to see where we are with them.”
Arteta confirmed it was an ankle injury for Mosquera and when asked if he was worried about his fitness, he replied: “No, we need to know, because the feeling that we had after the game and yesterday, we need to corroborate with other testing that we do today.”
The BBC reported later on Friday that Arsenal feared Mosquera could be missing for six to eight weeks as he prepares to undergo further tests.
With Mosquera and Gabriel both out, Arteta would be forced into another defensive reshuffle at Villa Park this afternoon if William Saliba isn’t ready to return.
Mosquera has played the last couple of games alongside fellow summer recruit Piero Hincapie in central defence, with the pair looking generally solid together.
If there is no Saliba today, you would expect Ben White or maybe Jurrien Timber to partner Hincapie instead.
Arteta gives Rice injury update: Every hour is important
10:16 , George FloodYou would expect Declan Rice to be fine for today after what he said upon exiting the Emirates after the win over Brentford, but Mikel Arteta was not giving anything away at London Colney yesterday ahead of a final Arsenal training session.
“Let’s see,” he said. “I think with all the questions I'm going to get, the answer, unfortunately, is going to be the same.
“We have another training session in the afternoon.
“Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we'll decide which ones [are available].”
On William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, he said: “It is a matter of days with those two, for sure.”
Aston Villa vs Arsenal prediction
10:10 , George FloodTrips to Villa Park have generally been good to the Gunners - along with Selhurst Park, it has seen the most away Premier League wins (15) in Arsenal history.
Their most recent visit was a fruitful one, emerging with a 2-0 win in August last year.
At the Emirates Stadium, however, they were held to a 2-2 draw.
Villa are often tricky customers, and are the form side in the division - excluding Arsenal - having won six games on the spin.
This should be a highly-entertaining game, with both sides throwing caution to the wind.
Draw, 2-2.
Arsenal team news: Mikel Arteta unsure over Declan Rice
10:05 , George FloodArsenal will hope that Declan Rice is ready for today’s game after he was forced off with a calf issue late on in the 2-0 home win over Brentford in midweek.
Rice said after the game that he was “fine”, though manager Mikel Arteta was non-committal at Friday’s pre-match press conference when asked if the influential England midfielder would be fit.
William Saliba and Leandro Trossard could both return from their respective knocks at Villa Park, though reports on Friday claimed that Cristhian Mosquera could be facing six weeks out with an ankle injury that also saw him forced off against Brentford.
Gabriel and Kai Havertz remain sidelined.
Aston Villa team news: Late call on Emi Martinez
10:01 , George FloodEmi Martinez has been in a race against time to be fit to face former club Arsenal this afternoon.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper was picked to start as usual against Brighton in midweek, but was forced to withdraw just minutes before kick-off with a back injury that prevented him from completing a proper warm-up as deputy Marco Bizot stepped in.
Martinez was not spotted at Villa training at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon and manager Unai Emery earlier admitted that he would not know until the “last moment” if the Argentine would be available.
The hosts are definitely without Ross Barkley, who could miss up to 12 weeks with a knee injury suffered in the 1-0 win over rivals Wolves last weekend.
Former England defender Tyrone Mings is not expected back from his hamstring issue until January, meanwhile.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Arsenal
09:57 , George FloodTV channel: Today’s game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 11.30am GMT on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal live
09:53 , George FloodGood morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Aston Villa vs Arsenal.
It’s a delicious lunchtime showdown between two in-form teams to kick off another busy weekend of Premier League action, with third playing host to first in a high-stakes contest.
A win for Arsenal would see them go eight points clear at the summit ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Sunderland later, while revenge for Unai Emery over his former employers would see them jump to second and cut the gap to today’s opponents to only three points.
Kick-off this afternoon is at 12:30pm GMT, so stay tuned for match build-up, all the latest breaking team news, lineups and live game updates, including expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Simon Collings at Villa Park.
