%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal travel to the West Midlands to play their first away match of the new Premier League season on Monday night under the lights at Villa Park.
The Gunners kick-started the defence of their title with a resounding victory over Coventry City last Friday, with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard seeing off the Sky Blue outfit. Mikel Arteta would've been delighted with his team's fluent attacking performance, and he'll hope it carries into the clash against Aston Villa.
Unai Emery's side endured a traumatic opening-day defeat to Brighton. 4-0 down inside the opening 32 minutes, the Spaniard's side were then reduced to ten men when new signing Joao Gomes lost his head.
The Villans have had a difficult summer, losing several key players, including Ezri Konsa. The England defender signed for Arsenal for £50 million last week, and could make his debut against his former club at his old stomping ground on Monday.
This, combined with Emery's history with the Gunners, has the potential to make this a fiery occasion in Birmingham.
With that said, here are the key battles that we believe could be pivotal in dictating the outcome of the game at Villa Park.
John McGinn vs Riccardo Calafiori
Villa's attack has been depleted this summer, with Morgan Rogers leaving for Chelsea and Ollie Watkins on the verge of departing for the Saudi Pro League. This has left John McGinn as Emery's attacking talisman as new signings Alejandro Garnacho and Nicolas Jackson settle in.
In order for Villa to pose Arsenal any problems whatsoever, McGinn will need to be at his best. The Scotsman will be stationed on the right flank in his bizarre auxiliary winger role, up against Riccardo Calafiori.
With the Italian full-back so adventurous with his positioning, this could be the one area the Gunners are vulnerable in. That said, if Calafiori negates McGinn, then Arteta has nothing to worry about regarding Villa's threat.
Matteo Ruggeri vs Bukayo Saka
Villa lost Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain this summer and have replaced him with Atletico Madrid left-back Matteo Ruggeri. The Italian is yet to make his full debut for his new club, with Ian Maatsen starting at the Amex last Saturday.
However, Emery is expected to throw Ruggeri in from the outset against the Gunners, and playing against Saka could certainly be a baptism of fire for the defender. If Arsenal's starboy is able to beat Ruggeri even on a couple of occasions, then this could prove to make the difference in the game, given the quality and consistency of Saka's end product when he gets into dangerous areas.
Matty Cash vs Christos Tzolis
Christos Tzolis has been one of Arsenal's standout performers so far this season. The timing of his runs, his decision-making, and his overall execution have all been spot on, and he's already become an essential part of the Gunners' attack.
However, Villa will be his biggest test yet, with a glorified friendly against Manchester City and a game against Coventry not necessarily revealing his true level just yet. He'll be pitted against Matty Cash, one of the few remaining pieces of Villa's Europa League-winning side from last season.
Cash is more renowned for his offensive work, as Arsenal discovered last season at Villa Park, so this should leave Tzolis plenty of room to take advantage of. If he performs at the same level he has done in recent weeks, he'll cause havoc.
Add us as a preferred source on Google