Match Pack: Arsenal

At A Glance

Aston Villa are looking to get back on track following two successive defeats as they travel to Arsenal on Sunday night (ko 7.15pm).

Dean Smith's side fell to a 4-3 home reverse against Southampton last weekend, coming on the back of their loss to Leeds United.

Despite that, Villa have made a positive start to the 2020/21 Premier League season having recorded four wins from their opening four matches.

Heading into Matchweek 8, Arsenal sit ninth in the table, one spot below Villa although the two sides are level on points.

The Gunners go into the clash on the back of last weekend's victory at Manchester United, their first league triumph at Old Trafford since 2006.

The north London outfit are unbeaten in three matches in all competitions, including two wins in the Europa League, and have W4, L3 from their seven league matches so far.

Standout Stats

• Emi Martinez returns to Arsenal for the first time since completing his summer switch to Villa Park. The goalkeeper, who has kept three clean sheets in his six appearances this term, spent 10 years with the Gunners. 
• Villa have won all four of their away matches so far this season - seeing off Fulham and Leicester City in the Premier League and Burton Albion and Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. They have not won three consecutive PL games on the road since 2010.
• The club's last victory at Emirates Stadium came in 2013, Christian Benteke bagging a brace in a 3-1 win, with Villa losing all three visits since.
• However, only three other clubs have won at the Emirates in the Premier League on more occasions than Villa's three - Chelsea (5), Manchester City and Manchester United (4).
• Arsenal have the meanest defence in the Premier League this term, conceding just seven goals to date.
• Only one of Arsenal's last 20 Premier League matches has ended in a draw (W12, L7), with that coming against Leicester in July.

The Last Meeting

Villa secured a crucial 1-0 triumph over Arsenal in their most-recent clash in late July, coming in the club's penultimate game of last season.

Trezeguet's first-half strike ensured Dean Smith's side lifted themselves out of the relegation zone heading into the final day of the campaign, where they secured survival at West Ham United.

Victory over the Gunners that night was the club's first on home soil since 1998 and ended a run of seven successive defeats against the side from the capital.

Team News

Villa will be without Bertrand Traore for Sunday's encounter after he was forced off in the first half against Southampton, although he is expected to return after the international break.

Tom Heaton is back in full training and will now look to gain valuable match practice to boost his recovery, while fellow long-term absentee Wesley is working hard and continues to make progress with his comeback.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta does not expect to have any new injury concerns for the clash.

The Boss