Arsenal's trip to Villa Park is arguably the biggest game of their season so far. Even more so than the top of the table clash against Manchester City on Wednesday or the vital win over their red neighbours two weeks earlier.
Such is the timing of the blip in results for Mikel Arteta's men they now need to nip it in the bud and return to winning ways as quickly as possible. More importantly than simply the three points available could be psychological damage done in the past fortnight.
Having scored twice against United, Eddie Nketiah is now being questioned following two missed chances against Pep Guardiola's side while Gabriel Martinelli's form is under the microscope. The fact that Thomas Partey is yet to play in a side that has been defeated this season is also worth raising.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta gives Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Jesus update for Villa vs Arsenal
The Ghana international was taken off before James Tarkowski nodded in against Everton having also missed the loss to Erik ten Hag's title outsiders in September. He was absent from the Emirates Stadium in midweek as well.
These issues have now begun to surface after a season that has run so smoothly for Arteta and facing a rejuvenated Aston Villa side managed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery is now a much bigger game than it appeared three games previously.
With that in mind, here's what football.london picked up from the training images.
Emile Smith Rowe involved
Mikel Arteta revealed as much when speaking ahead of the game but seeing the 22-year-old back out on the grass will be a big boost to those hoping for his return. Smith Rowe did play his first minutes in the league since September against Tottenham but was soon sidelined again.
His consistent niggles have limited him to just 62 minutes of football this season. With midfield now being a cause for concern after Partey's own injury setback and Jorginho not being a like-for-like profile replacement, if Smith Rowe can be back sooner rather than later then it would be a major boost.
"Emile is training today, if he’s fine he’ll be in the squad," Arteta explained and the training images show him in an embrace with Bukayo Saka as well as dribbling with the ball in a drill and warming his hands too.
No Partey, no party
In some immediate bad news there was no sign of Thomas Partey. Having missed the match against City with a back issue, Arteta explained after having been announced on Twitter as a muscular issue, he is also a doubt for Saturday.
"We have to assess him today again. He had some discomfort, a little muscle discomfort. We have to assess him this morning and see how he is," Arteta explained on Friday.
It seems as if he is being wrapped in cotton wool too, with no visible sign of the midfielder in the training images. That could be merely coincidence or by design to play down his involvement but bit will add to the fears of fans. Jorginho has deputised for Partey and is seen involved in training.
The Italian is captured speaking to Arteta and Takehiro Tomiyasu as he prepares to play at Villa Park.
Trossard Kung-Fu kick
It's all about the angles. In the funniest image in the display Leandro Trossard appears to be heading for an acrobatic collision with Ben White as he jumps to control the ball.
The winger, who has started well at the Emirates Stadium, isn't looking at the man or the ball as he scrunches his face up and prepares to hit White. The English defender is taller than his Belgium teammate and has opted for a standard bit of chest control it seems but may have a boot coming into him.
It what looks like a dangerous situation it can only be hoped that Trossard didn't make any meaningful contact with White, otherwise Arteta might find himself a right-back light for the trip to the midlands. In pure Eric Cantona style, Trossard has leapt into the air, studs up and facing White's body.
If he has a boot mark on his top then it's clear where it came from.
Youngster involved
18-year-old Lino Sousa can be seen in the background of an image focused on Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian centre-back looks to be shouting in frustration at London Colney whilst in the corner Sousa is there sharing a laugh with William Saliba.
Sousa, an England youth international, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Gunners having only turned 18 last month but has been offered the chance to train with the first team here. He did make the bench in the 3-0 away win at Brentford earlier this season, the day Ethan Nwaneri made his debut for the club.
Sousa has been a regular in the Under-21 side but still has a way to go in order to become a regular on a matchday, especially with Kieran Tierney returning to fitness and the form of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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