**Mikel Arteta faces two major selection decisions when Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on Monday night, with Bruno Guimaraes pushing to return and Ezri Konsa available to face his former club.**
Arsenal opened their Premier League title defence with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Coventry City, giving Arteta little reason to make sweeping changes at Villa Park.
The biggest question is whether £75million summer signing Guimaraes is fit enough to return straight into the starting line-up.
Guimaraes missed the opening league fixture after picking up an injury during Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
Arteta has since confirmed the midfielder is back working on the pitch but Arsenal are carefully managing his workload ahead of Monday.
> “He’s potentially available.”
The manager said Arsenal need to manage Guimaraes carefully to ensure he reaches the game in the best possible condition. Reuters also reports that the Brazilian could make his Premier League debut at Villa Park.
We have already covered the latest **Bruno Guimaraes injury situation** following Arteta’s update, while our **Aston Villa vs Arsenal TV and team-news guide** will continue to be refreshed before kick-off.
Given the uncertainty over his fitness, starting Guimaraes may represent an unnecessary risk.
Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in midfield against Coventry and could therefore retain his place alongside Declan Rice.
Konsa presents Arteta with another decision.
The England defender is available after completing his move from Villa and has trained well with his new team-mates.
> “He’s available. He’s been training really well.”
Arteta confirmed Konsa will be in contention for selection against his former club.
However, Arsenal could again start Cristhian Mosquera alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
William Saliba remains sidelined with a back problem, while Jurrien Timber is unavailable despite increasing his workload following groin surgery.
That could leave Konsa to make his Arsenal debut from the bench rather than immediately being thrown into the starting XI at Villa Park.
Arteta could ultimately reward the side that performed so convincingly against Coventry.
David Raya should continue in goal, with Ben White, Mosquera, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori forming the back four.
Lewis-Skelly and Rice can provide the platform in midfield, allowing Martin Odegaard to operate further forward.
Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis should retain their places either side of Kai Havertz.
Gabriel Martinelli is moving towards his Arsenal departure, while Gabriel Jesus is also unlikely to be involved as his future is resolved during the final days of the transfer window. The Standard similarly predicts an unchanged XI, with Guimaraes and Konsa initially missing out.
**Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Lewis-Skelly, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.**