Aston Villa vs Arsenal

Aston Villa face Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday evening in the second round of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with Unai Emery’s side already looking to steady a ship that was blown apart on the opening weekend. A 4-0 defeat at Brighton, in which Villa became only the second team in Premier League history to concede four goals, receive a red card, and score an own goal in the first half, has left the Europa League holders in disarray ahead of the visit of Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Arsenal.

Team News and Injury Latest

Emery’s squad has been decimated by departures and injuries. Record-signing midfielder Johan Manzambi is yet to make an appearance and will not feature against Arsenal, while Amadou Onana remains on the sidelines following the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the World Cup. Seventeen-year-old striker Brian Madjo, who scored five goals in seven pre-season appearances, is also out, and Ollie Watkins’ usual understudy Tammy Abraham was absent at the Amex Stadium.

Watkins himself missed the Brighton defeat amid growing speculation over a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. New signing Joao Gomes had a debut to forget on the south coast; the Brazilian was cautioned for waving an imaginary card, gave away possession for Brighton’s fourth goal, and was sent off for kicking out at Georginio Rutter. Alejandro Garnacho and Matteo Ruggeri made their debuts from the bench but are still being integrated into the group.