ARSENAL take on Aston Villa TONIGHT to kick-off the weekend's Premier League action.
The Gunners will be buoyed by their last-gasp draw against Crystal Palace on Monday, while Villa were stunned 3-2 by fierce rivals Wolves in the west Midlands derby.
- Start time: 8pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Arsenal XI: To follow
- Aston Villa XI: To follow
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When is Arsenal vs Aston Villa?
- Arsenal vs Aston Villa takes place on Friday, October 20.
- The match kicks off at 8pm.
- The Emirates Stadium plays host.
What TV channel and live stream is Arsenal vs Aston Villa on?
Arsenal vs Aston Villa will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League.
Sky begin their coverage at 7pm.
What is the team news?
The Gunners are without Granit Xhaka, who will be sidelined for at least the next 6 weeks.
Bukayo Saka came off in the draw with Crystal Palace, but is expected to be fit for this one.
Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard were positives from that game and should start again.
Leon Bailey is a major doubt for Villa, but Matty Cash is expected to be fit despite a dead leg from the weekend.
- Sam Dymond
LACA PLAYER
Alexandre Lacazette was the toast of Highbury and Islington on Monday evening as he rescued a point for Arsenal with his late, late equaliser against Crystal Palace.
While it can be argued as to whether it was a goal Arsenal deserved, there's no doubting that it was just reward for the French striker.
In his 23-minute cameo against Palace, Lacazette had more shots on target (2) and created more chances (2) than any other Arsenal player in the match.
The 30-year-old is averaging a goal or assist every 46 minutes in all competitions this season.
Will he be rewarded with a start this evening?
- Sam Dymond
MATCH ODDS
Aston Villa have won their last three league matches against Arsenal, would you bet against them making it four straight successes?
- Arsenal win 10/11
- Draw 27/10
- Aston Villa win 16/5
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of publication.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of this evening’s Premier League clash between Arsenal and Aston Villa.
The dust has barely settled in the aftermath of Alexandre Lacazette’s last-gasp equaliser against Crystal Palace on Monday night, but the Emirates faithful are preparing to do it all again.
But while they exited the stadium on Cloud 9(0+6) having stolen a point from Palace, there is no escaping the fact that the Gunners were second best to the side from south of the river.
So similar shortcomings tonight are unlikely to be tolerated, especially if Villa go on to add to their recent run of victories against Mikel Arteta’s men.
Bukayo Saka is a doubt for the hosts, having been launched across London by James McArthur four nights ago, and that may mean a reshape for the Spanish coach, especially if he opts to start Lacazette after his heroic cameo.
Villa have their own late drama from which to respond. Dean Smith’s side were coasting against near-neighbours Wolves last Saturday, 2-0 to the good with just ten minutes left on the clock.
Yet in a bizarre finale, the West Midlands outfit conceded three to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore are back to bolster a squad that has been stewing, while Matty Cash has been given the green light to play despite departing with a dead leg just before Wolves launched their extraordinary comeback.
It’s twelfth against thirteenth in North London, kick-off is scheduled for 8pm, and team news is on the way.
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