Arsenal will be looking to get back to winning ways when they lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park this lunchtime.
The Gunners, who have won three of their last four visits to Villa Park, will be aiming to get back on track following Tuesday evening's dramatic 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux which saw both Bernd Leno and David Luiz sent-off.
Nicolas Pepe handed Arsenal the lead just past the half hour mark but Wolves responded through goals from Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho either side of half time to inflict a first Premier League defeat on the Gunners since their 2-1 reverse to Everton on December 19.
Despite being beaten by Nuno Espirito Santo's side, the Gunners delivered an impressive showing in the Black County, particularly in the first half, but the red cards, of course, had a severe impact on the contest.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have the opportunity to get Tuesday evening's defeat out of their system quickly against Dean Smith's Villa, who will also be targeting a return to winning ways after being beaten 3-1 by West Ham United on Wednesday night.
This lunchtime's clash in the Midlands is a big one for both sides, with the two clubs currently side by side in the table. Currently, Villa are ninth on 32 points and Mikel Arteta's side are tenth with 31 points to their name. Victory for Arsenal would see them leapfrog north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who face West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, and up into eighth place.
But if Arsenal are to do that, they are going to have to be at the very top of their game, with Villa having proven they can be a match for anyone this season.
The likes of Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi, Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins will be among those looking to hurt Arsenal's backline, which will be without the suspended Luiz and left-back Kieran Tierney, who remains sidelined through injury.
That means that the Gunners' defensive-line will need help from the likes of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, who often try and anchor the backline, ahead of them. In the last two matches, against both Manchester United and Wolves, the duo have been the ones responsible for sitting in front of the defence, and that is poised to continue this lunchtime.
After missing six Premier League games between early-December and early-January, summer recruit Partey is now back at full throttle and eager to kick-on after a frustrating first few months in England.
And judging by the Ghana international's own admission he is ready to maintain his run in the team against Villa.
On Friday evening, Partey, who is yet to score for the Gunners, updated his Instagram story with two photographs of himself in action at Arsenal's London Colney training ground, working hard in preparation for today's clash with Villa.
That suggests that the defensive-midfielder is ready and raring to go for his latest test in an Arsenal shirt, with him likely to have the responsibility of keeping a watchful eye on dangerman Grealish, who has been nothing short of outstanding this season.
The last time Arsenal met Villa, the Gunners were beaten 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium back in November, with Partey forced off at half-time through injury.
Arteta's side were only 1-0 down at the break, but a brace from Watkins in the second 45 earned a memorable win for the visitors.
Partey, who has made 12 appearances for the Gunners since his move from Atletico Madrid back in October, will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself on both fronts today, hoping he can last the full 90 minutes and Arsenal return to north London with three points in the bag.
