Team news: Saka, Eze and Timbers for Villa game | Team News | news

Mikel Arteta has made three changes to his team for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, with Bukayo Saka, Ebere Eze and Jurien Timbers returning to our line-up.

All three were rested for Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Brentford, but all returned for our game at Villa Park, replacing Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Cristian Mosquera.

With the latter ruled out of the matchday squad due to an ankle injury suffered in midweek, Jurien would once again be deployed at centre-back, while William Saliba was still not fit enough to return.

One player who is back is Leandro Trossard, who has been named on our bench after missing the last two matches in defeat, as well as 16-year-old centre-back Marlee Salmon, who is in the first-team matchday squad for the first time, having also played on our pre-season tour of Asia.

Declan Rice is fit to start after coming on against Brentford, while Martin Odegaard and Ben White have once again been selected from the off.

Gabriel Jesus and Max Dowman have traveled with the Under-21s for a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United at St George’s Park as they look to build up their match fitness.

Meanwhile our opponents have been boosted by the return of Emiliano Martínez, who missed Wednesday’s 4-3 win against Brighton & Hove Albion when he had to be forced off with back problems during the warm-up, but he is fit to play again.

The former Gunner is one of two changes from the team that won at the Amex Stadium three days ago, the other being Youri Tielemans in place of Ivan Gessand.

line-up

Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Matson, Kamara, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rodgers, Watkins.
Sub: Bizot, Garcia, Digne, Lindelof, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Sancho, Malen.

Arsenal: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino.
Sub: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelley, Salmon, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Maduque, Gyöckeres.

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