Brighton loanee Mat Ryan makes his Arsenal debut against Aston Villa as the Gunners deal with numerous injuries and suspensions – live on talkSPORT.
The Australia international, 28, joined on loan from Brighton last month, and his return from a hip injury will be a welcome boost for Arteta, with Bernd Leno suspended and questions over Alex Runarsson.
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David Luiz, also out after his controversial red in the defeat to Wolves was upheld, has been replaced in the heart of defence by Gabriel Magalhaes, who will hope to force his way back into Arteta’s plans having found himself out of favour in recent weeks.
Kieran Tierney remains sidelined for the clash after Arteta revealed he ‘was not close at all’ to being ready for the Wolves game.
The Gunners boss has left Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench as the captain continues to recover from the emotional effects of his mother’s illness.
Nicolas Pepe has stepped up his game in recent weeks and starts ahead of Aubameyang as Alexandre Lacazette returns up top.
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Asked about Pepe’s display against Wolves, Arteta said: “If you ask me personally what I think of the performance that he put in overall, in all the phases of the game, I think it is the best he has played.
“And his contribution is the best that he has done and he needs to sustain that. When you have momentum in football, when you have to earn the right to play, then you cannot lose it.
“In order to do that you need to do the basics right and keep doing what you are doing. If not, you know that someone else will be knocking on your door.”
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Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Confirmed teams
Villa: Martinez, Cash, Mings, Konsa, Targett, McGinn, Barkley, Grealish, Marvelous, Watkins, Traore.
Subs: Heaton, Douglas Luiz, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Engels, Sanson, El Mohamady, Davis, Ramsey.
Arsenal: Ryan, Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Cedric, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette.
Subs: Runarsson, Ceballos, Odegaard, Willian, Aubameyang, Chambers, Mari, Elneny, Martinelli.
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