This is the Aston Villa starting lineup that we believe will play Arsenal in the Premier League, which includes Moussa Diaby’s selection.
When Aston Villa hosts Arsenal on Saturday, under coach Unai Emery, the team has a chance to surge to within one point of the Premier League’s top rank. The Villans are in high spirits after their historic 1-0 triumph over Manchester City on Wednesday, and things could get much better this weekend.
Declan Rice’s goal in the 97th minute of the Gunners’ midweek match against Luton Town gave them their fourth straight victory. Nonetheless, Arsenal will need to perform exceptionally well to obtain anything, much less a victory, since the men in claret and blue have won 14 straight home league games for the first time since 1903.
Given that some players were obviously exhausted after their exploits on Wednesday, Emery might need to gradually shuffle his squad. But not everyone has the capacity for relaxation. This is the starting lineup that we believe Mikel Arteta’s team will use.
1. GK – Emi Martinez
Put in another tremendous performance on Wednesday, including a heroic double save to deny Erling Haaland.
2. RB – Matty Cash
The £15m right-back rotates back into the team after two benchings. Not at his best currently but is one of the best defenders at the club on his day.
3. CB – Ezri Konsa
Moves into central defence again with Cash returning to the lineup. It feels harsh for Diego Carlos to make way but Konsa is ahead in the pecking order.
4. CB – Pau Torres
Put in one of his best displays of his short Villa career to date midweek as he kept Haaland largely quiet – apart from the double chance in the first half.
5. LB – Alex Moreno
Is rotated into the XI, just like Cash on the opposite side. Moreno scored his first Villa goal against Legia and had a rest against City.
6. RM – Leon Bailey
Had arguably his best ever game in claret and blue on Wednesday as a second forward but moves into the right midfield role to accommodate a striker change.
7. CM – Boubacar Kamara
Simply has to start after a pretty faultless midweek display. The Frenchman made John Stones and Rico Lewis look ordinary.
8. CM – Douglas Luiz
Committed to helping Villa try and qualify for the Champions League amid interest from elsewhere and is one of the first names on the team sheet.
9. LM – John McGinn
Could do with a rest at some point but is absolutely vital to his team. The trip to Bosnia is likelier to be the time for McGinn to sit one out.
10. ST – Moussa Diaby
Hasn’t started either of the last two games but isn’t exactly in poor form. There were murmurs of a knock but the minutes against City have quashed those.
11. ST – Ollie Watkins
With 13 goals and eight assists in 20 games in all competitions, there’s hardly any strikers in better form on the planet let alone in the Villa squad.
