Quantcast
Home   >   Match   >   Confirmed line-ups: Aston Villa vs Arsenal – White starts, Saliba ruled out

Confirmed line-ups: Aston Villa vs Arsenal – White starts, Saliba ruled out

By on December 6, 2025

mikel merino arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League table with a win over Aston Villa at Villa Park this Saturday lunchtime.

We head into the weekend action sitting five points clear of Manchester City after beating Brentford 2-0 in midweek. However, today’s clash against an in-form Villa side – who sit third a point further back – is going to be a huge test.

The task has been made all the more difficult due to an untimely injury crisis at central defence. Gabriel Magalhaes is still out while Cristhian Mosquera is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Brentford.

William Saliba has also been ruled out once again today so Jurrien Timber starts alongside Piero Hincapie in the middle of the Arsenal defence today. Riccardo Calafiori continues at left-back while Ben White lines-up at right-back.

Declan Rice is passed fit to start in midfield despite limping off with a calf issue on Wednesday night. Martin Zubimendi starts once again in the holding role while Martin Odegaard captains the Gunners today.

Bukayo Saka is recalled to start on the right flank after being given a rest in midweek. Eberechi Eze is also back in the starting eleven with Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke dropping to the bench.

Mikel Merino leads the line up front once again so Viktor Gyokeres has to settle for a place on the bench. Leandro Trossard is fit again and is named on the bench along with Ethan Nwaneri. Gabriel Jesus isn’t involved as he’ll play for the U21s to build up his fitness.

There are the teams:

Arsenal

Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres.

Aston Villa

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers; Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Lindelöf, Digne, Garcia, Buendía, Bogarde, Hemmings, Malen, Sancho