Arsenal have lost Gabriel Jesus to a groin injury ahead of tonight’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
The Brazilian was not expected to make the Gunners’ starting XI anyway as Mikel Arteta makes one change to his line-up.
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William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and Jurrien Timber make up the defence as the Dutchman beats Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori to the final spot in the backline.
“Well, he had a really good pre-season to a point and then we had to stop him because he had a little issue there,” Arteta said of Timber in the week.
“So, we didn’t believe he was ready and we had to build him up. We have to be cautious, so I am not sure.”
At the base of midfield, Thomas Partey keeps his place alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Gabriel Martinelli beats Leandro Trossard to the left-wing berth with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz completing the XI.
Fabio Vieira is not involved ahead of completing a move to Porto on loan but Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah are on the bench despite being linked with moves away.
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Zinchenko, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Calafiori, Nwaneri, Kiwior
Injuries: Jesus (groin), Tomiyasu (knee), Tierney (hamstring)
Time and date: 5.30pm BST, Saturday August 24, 2024
TV channel: Sky Sports
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Michael Oliver
Arsenal squad from: Ramsdale, Raya; Calafiori, Gabriel, Kiwior, Saliba, Tierney, Timber, White, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Jesus, Martinelli, Nelson, Nketiah, Saka, Trossard
