Team news

Team news: Martinelli starts against Villa

Gabriel Martinelli in training

Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino are both back into the starting lineup to face Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Raheem Sterling and William Saliba are the two to make way from the team that started the north London derby victory on Wednesday night. Sterling is among the subs, while Saliba misses out entirely - he had played every minute of our past seven games since December 21. 

It means a defensive reshuffle, with Thomas Partey likely to start at right back, and Jurrien Timber partnering Gabriel in the middle. Myles Lewis-Skelly continues at left back after his storming display in midweek.

Merino joins Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield, with Martinelli joining Wednesday's matchwinner Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz up front.

The visitors have made one change from the side that beat Everton 1-0 in midweek, with Ian Maatsen replacing Lucas Digne at left back. Donyell Malen - their new signing from Borussia Dortmund who was formerly part of our youth team - is among their subs. 

 

Line-ups

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Sterling.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Mings, Konsa, Maatsen, Onana, Ramsey, Tielemans, Kamara, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Olsen, Digne, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Buendia, Malen, Bailey, Duran.