Aston Villa (a) Pre-Match.

Arsenal head into the trip to Villa Park with several injury concerns affecting key areas of the squad. Cristhian Mosquera remains unavailable after picking up a recent injury that has ruled him out of contention, while Declan Rice is a major doubt following the calf problem that forced him off in Arsenal’s last fixture. William Saliba also missed recent games after suffering a knock in training, and his involvement remains uncertain heading into the weekend. Leandro Trossard is another potential absentee as he continues to manage a muscle issue, and Kai Havertz is still recovering from knee surgery, leaving him unlikely to feature until later in December. Gabriel Magalhães also remains sidelined as he works his way back from his own fitness setback.

There is, however, some positive news for Arsenal, with Viktor Gyökeres returning to training and recently making the bench, signalling that he is close to being fully available again after his hamstring issue. The club also remains hopeful that late fitness tests could offer further boosts, particularly for players like Saliba or Trossard, depending on how they respond in the final sessions before kick-off.

These injury situations will play a significant role in Mikel Arteta’s match-day decisions. With defensive absences piling up, Arsenal may need to rely on rotation or a reshuffled back line to maintain their strong defensive record. In midfield, Rice’s availability could determine the balance and control Arsenal can impose during the game. Despite the challenges, the return of Gyökeres adds valuable depth in attack and provides another option in the final third.

With a win at Villa Park offering Arsenal the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League—at least temporarily until Manchester City and Chelsea play later in the weekend—the stakes are high. Managing injuries, maintaining composure and making full use of the squad will be crucial as Arsenal look to take advantage of the early kick-off and strengthen their position in the title race.