Overview
- The Premier League fixture is at Villa Park on Monday, August 31, with kick-off at 8pm BST and live coverage on Sky Sports.
- Arsenal arrive unbeaten after wins in the Community Shield and their opening league match and travel with defensive absences including William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
- Ezri Konsa, sold by Villa to Arsenal this summer, has been presented by Arsenal and could make his debut against his former club.
- Aston Villa have sold several key players over the summer and recruited heavily, and new striker Nicolas Jackson is in line to make his Villa debut while João Gomes is suspended.
- The game is framed as an early barometer for Arsenal’s title defence and for Unai Emery’s ability to quickly knit together a vastly changed Villa squad before the transfer window closes.