Arsenal face a tricky assignment on the road as they take on Aston Villa this afternoon.
The Gunners restored their five point lead at the top of the Premier League midweek against Brentford, keeping Manchester City at arm’s length with Chelsea slipping up.
All eyes will be on whether Declan Rice features today after the midfielder was forced off late on against the Bees in yet another injury worry for Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal will need him up against the league’s in form side who have racked up six wins in a row to move up to third, just six points behind today’s opposition.
With games piling up thick and fast, this will be another real test of Arsenal’s title credentials against a team who have a history of making life difficult for them.
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December 6, 2025 11:39 am
Martinez boost for Villa
Tony Mogan
Good news for Villa, Emiliano Martinez has recovered from the knock he picked up in the warm-up midweek and takes his place in goal against his former side.
December 6, 2025 11:34 am
Merino preferred to Gyokeres again
Tony Mogan
Viktor Gyokeres has been back on the bench for Arsenal’s last two games against Chelsea and Brentford. That’s where he remains today. Is Mikel Arteta managing his fitness… or is Mikel Merino now his firm first choice striker?
December 6, 2025 11:29 am
Arteta makes three changes to the side that beat Brentford
Tony Mogan
Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber are all back in the starting XI today. Timber came on to fill in at centre-half midweek and that is where he starts today with Cristhian Mosquera joining the injured list.
Ben White keeps his place at right-back as Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke drop to the bench.
December 6, 2025 11:27 am
Saliba misses out again
Tony Mogan
William Saliba is absent from the squad again – but there is a welcomed return of Leandro Torssard to the bench.
December 6, 2025 11:22 am
Rice starts for Arsenal
Tony Mogan
All that panic for nothing! Declan Rice is fit to start for Arsenal as he has done for every Premier League game this season. A huge boost for the Gunners.
December 6, 2025 11:20 am
Confirmed Aston Villa XI to play Arsenal
Tony Mogan
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelöf, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Sancho
December 6, 2025 11:18 am
Confirmed Arsenal XI to play Villa
Tony Mogan
Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino
Subs: Kepa, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Madueke, Trossard, Gyokeres
December 6, 2025 11:10 am
How Arsenal could line up today against Villa
Tony Mogan
Should Saliba and Mosquera both still be out, a reshuffle at the back will be required. Timber slotted in at centre-half against Brentford and after his fine performance against the Bees, Ben White will hope to have the chance to continue at right-back.
Viktor Gyokeres is fit again but Arteta has kept his faith in Mikel Merino who could get the nod again.
December 6, 2025 11:05 am
Arsenal team news today
Tony Mogan
In addition to Rice, William Saliba remains a doubt ahead of kick-off having missed Arsenal’s last two games with an unspecified knock.
With Christhian Mosquera joining him on the sidelines, it leaves Arsenal extremely light at the back today.
December 6, 2025 11:04 am
Will Declan Rice play today?
Tony Mogan
Plenty of Arsenal fans watched on in horror as Declan Rice limped off clutching his half on Wednesday.
Rice told reporters he was ‘fine’ as he left the Emirates later that night but Mikel Arteta was giving little away when asked for an update on the England international on Friday.
A late decision was to be made in the midfielder with Arteta stressing ‘every hour is important’ in the lead-up to kick-off.
We will have our answer in about 10 minutes.
Arsenal v Brentford - Premier League
(Picture: Getty)
December 6, 2025 11:02 am
Aston Villa vs Arsenal TV channel
Tony Mogan
You can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1 with streaming also available through the Discovery+ app.
December 6, 2025 11:02 am
Aston Villa vs Arsenal kick-off time
Tony Mogan
We will be underway from 12:30pm at Villa Park this afternoon.
December 6, 2025 11:00 am
Good morning!
Tony Mogan
We’ve just seen the back of a busy midweek Premier League schedule but here we go again.
Arsenal sit top of the pile and five points clear ahead of kick-off but up against the league’s in-form team and their former boss Unai Emery, there is a huge challenge ahead today.
Stick with us for all your team news and build-up.
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