Aston Villa will be welcoming back three first team stars to their side as they prepare to face Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday. Ahead of the reunion for former Gunners boss Unai Emery, the Villans had some further positive news.
Ex-club captain Tyrone Mings has agreed a new deal with the Midlands based side and the capped England international is back in contention to play against Arsenal too. Having come in for some major criticism this season under Steven Gerrard, Mings has remained central to Emery's planning.
The 29-year-old has a decent record against Mikel Arteta's men too. In his eight matches played he has won three, losing five. He has been on the losing side in the past three matches though, and will face the task of stopping an out of form attack.
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Having been in good form for most of the season, Gabriel Martinelli has had a dip in performance levels in recent weeks alongside his teammates. Arsenal will want to put the disappointment of two defeats in three games behind them quickly.
Mings could be in line to return to the Villa defence in order to help stop the Gunners attack, too. "Tyrone Mings didn't play last week. He was training yesterday and today, he's in the squad," Emery explained. "We will decide if he is ready to start the match as well."
Elsewhere there was good news and bad news for the Spanish manager. "Robin Olsen as well, he's in the squad but didn't train this week but, hopefully, he can be in the squad. Diego Carlos is starting back which is very good news. He trained with us yesterday and today but he's not in the squad, obviously.
"Bertrand Traore, for the first time, will be in the squad. He has been progressing well. He will need to work every day and to get his fitness better in order to start and play in the matches."
As for Arsenal, they are waiting nervously themselves for the fitness of Thomas Partey. He missed the midweek action against Manchester City with a back problem and is a doubt for the early kick off. Emile Smith Rowe trained ahead of the game and could be in a position to play.
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