Gabriel makes his first Arsenal start in nearly two months but Declan Rice misses out on the Gunners’ matchday squad against Aston Villa in a huge Premier League showdown at Emirates Stadium.
The Brazilian defender made his comeback as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Brighton and his return to fitness is a major boost for Mikel Arteta, who also welcomes back Jurrien Timber after the Dutchman was missing against the Seagulls.
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However, Riccardo Calafiori misses out after withdrawing from the warm-up against Brighton, and so too does Rice, who is reportedly dealing with a knee injury understood to have been picked up in the same game.
Timber being fit again is a welcome boost to the Gunners, who will field Piero Hincapie at left-back with Myles Lewis-Skelly on the bench and Calafiori absent entirely as the returning Gabriel partners William Saliba in central defence.
Viktor Gyokeres keeps his place up front despite offering little against Brighton, with Gabriel Jesus on the bench and Kai Havertz also back in the matchday squad following a lengthy injury layoff.
Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli must settle for a place among the subtitutes, with Leandro Trossard earning a start on the left wing as Mikel Merino steps into the middle of the park to replace Rice.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly
Injured: Rice, Calafiori, Mosquera, Dowman
Time and date: 8.15pm GMT on Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
