The Stats Zone
February 17 2023, 18:01 · Alex Lawes

What will Aston Villa's starting line-up be against Arsenal?

What will Aston Villa's starting line-up be against Arsenal?

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Unai Emery’s reign at Aston Villa began very impressively but The Villains come into this on the back of back-to-back defeats in which they have conceded seven goals, with a 4-2 loss at home to Leicester City followed by a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City.

Aston Villa have played a narrow 4-4-2 system quite often under Emery, with central midfielders such as Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn acting as a ‘false winger’. It had been anticipated that Emery may try Alex Moreno on the left-hand side of midfield, ahead of Lucas Digne, like he did with Alberto Moreno ahead of Pervis Estupinan at Villarreal last season.

Defensive issues in the last two games have not been helped by Diego Carlos remaining out since the start of the season and Tyrone Mings is also a doubt for this one, having missed Villa’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, last weekend.

If Mings does not come back into the team due to his injury then Calum Chambers, who had a bit of a nightmare first-half against City, will keep his place alongside Ezri Konsa in the heart of their defence. Digne is available but Moreno may well get the nod, too, with Ashley Young set to start at right-back once again.

Philippe Coutinho has continued to struggle for game time after his move from Barcelona on a permanent basis has gone flat. Emi Buendia will instead play on the right side of Villa’s narrow midfield, with Ramsey or McGinn on the left once again. The central midfield duo of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara remains one of the best defensive midfield partnerships in the Premier League.

It seems likely that, once again, Villa will persist with a front two of Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins. Jhon Duran did come on in the second-half against Manchester City and the Colombian striker did show glimpses of quality but it is unlikely he will displace the impressive Watkins and improving Bailey.

The narrow 4-4-2 can be flexible into a diamond system, too, and also a 4-2-3-1 with Ramsey behind Watkins, as well as a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 system.

PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Ramsey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Buendia; Bailey, Watkins

UNAVAILABLE: Diego Carlos (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Steer (Injured), Mings (Injured)