Arsenal vs Aston Villa live updates: Premier League team news, line ...

Ed Mackey

April 14, 2024 at 7:12 AM EDT

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Douglas Luiz is serving the first of a two-match suspension today after he picked up his 10th yellow card of the season in the 97th minute of Aston Villa's last game against Brentford.

With Villa missing several midfielders due to injury, Luiz's absence could present an opportunity for 20-year-old Tim Iroegbunam to make his third career Premier League start.

In more positive news, Unai Emery confirmed on Friday that Matty Cash and Clement Lenglet have both returned to training. Cash has been out since suffering a hamstring injury during March's international break, while Lenglet has missed Villa's past two matches.

Centre-back Gabriel missed the first part of Friday’s training session doing gym work, but Mikel Arteta suggested he could be fit to face Aston Villa.

“We’ve got one more day to prepare the match,” said the Arsenal manager. “We will see tomorrow if everyone is available.”

Elsewhere, defender Jurrien Timber continues to inch closer to a return from his ACL injury, with Arteta saying that he will play with Arsenal’s academy team before he will be considered ready for first-team action.

“He’s still got a few steps to make,” the Arsenal manager said.

“He needs to play a game at least within the under-21s. He’s going to have an in-house game soon as well. He’s done everything in training.

“Now he’s getting that match fitness and having people around him and starting to compete in a football match, which is different to training.”

Speaking on Friday ahead of today's match, Mikel Arteta was asked about how he manages contending for multiple trophies, replying: “We can be in all competitions, going into the semi-finals of the Champions League and be top of the Premier League, or not. Every game is going to define what our future looks like.

“It is the only thing possible to look at one day and one game. It is the only thing that is possible because it's the only thing that maintains your focus and determines the tasks that you have to do on the day, which is the only thing that you can control.

“Fifteen minutes (after) we finished against Luton, I was watching Brighton in my office in the stadium. It’s like this because you don’t have time. You have to prepare and you’re onto the next one.”

Aston Villa dropped points in their fight with Tottenham for fourth place in their most recent Premier League match, settling for a 3-3 draw at home against Brentford.

Things were going swimmingly for Villa as Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the 38th minute and Morgan Rogers doubled their lead in the opening minute of the second half.

But Brentford stormed back with an impressive rally, scoring three times in nine minutes to take the lead through Mathias Jorgensen, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

Ollie Watkins got Villa back on even terms with his second goal of the game with 10 minutes to go, but the hosts couldn't find a winner.

In Arsenal's most recent Premier League match, they comfortably navigated a tricky away trip to Brighton to retake first place in the table.

Bukayo Saka got the north London club on the board in the first half, converting from the penalty spot after Tariq Lamptey fouled Gabriel Jesus in the box. Kai Havertz then doubled their lead midway through the second half, continuing his strong scoring form.

And with four minutes to go in normal time Leandro Trossard put the result beyond doubt, making it 3-0 with a goal against his former club. With Liverpool dropping points at Old Trafford the next day, this win enabled Arsenal to finish the weekend in first place.

It’s matchday 33 in the Premier League and Arsenal host Aston Villa as they look to finish the weekend in first place.

Adam Leventhal is joined by Jon Mackenzie, Art de Roché and Tim Spiers to preview the match.

Listen via your preferred podcast platform here!

This is one the more popular fixtures of the Premier League era and today's match-up is the 58th meeting between the pair in the competition.

It is one that has been dominated by Arsenal as they have won more than half of their games against Aston Villa.

Of those 31 Arsenal wins, 17 have come at home.

Capacity: 60,704

This place has been absolutely rocking for most games this season, and rightly so — it has been a long time Arsenal have competed for a league title and the Champions League simultaneously.

Can they go all the way in either? Or both?

In the UK, Sky Sports will be showing the match on their Main Event and Premier League channels.

USA Network and Telemundo will be doing the honours in the US.

A prime time slot for this one as kick-off will be 4:30pm local time (BST).

That is 11:30am ET and 8:30 am PT.

Good morning!

Welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of Arsenal vs Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

Another massive day in the home side's season and another monumental day in the Premier League title race.

And let's not forget that Aston Villa are fighting hard for a place in next season's Champions League — it should be a cracking game.

Stay with us over the course of the day as we build up to kick-off in north London.