Arsenal are preparing for the top-of-the-table clash with Aston Villa, and they could well and truly get an unexpected player fit for the game.

Arsenal’s meeting with Aston Villa shapes up as one of the standout fixtures of the Premier League season so far.

For much of the 2025/26 campaign, Arsenal have battled with a fierce injury crisis and been reduced to the bare bones up front - Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke have all faced long spells out.

Enzo Maresca has sent a message to his Chelsea squad to highlight the importance of getting back to winning ways when they face Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Arsenal have lost three of their last five Premier League matches against Aston Villa (W1 D1) and could see Villa complete a league double over them for the third time in six seasons (also 2020-21 and 2023-24), something they’d done so just once previously in the competition beforehand, in 1992-93.

Reputed outlet Sport Witness relayed recent reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, regarding a transfer chase. These reports indicate that Aston Villa and Chelsea intend to compete for Bologna striker