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Aston Villa v Arsenal team news: Timber, Eze + Saka back in, Rice fit

6 December 2025 524 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Unai Emery faces another rematch with his former employers as Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Gameweek 15 curtain-raiser.

Kick-off at Villa Park is at 12.30pm GMT.

These are the top two clubs in the Premier League form table, no matter if you’re measuring by six, eight, 10 or 12 matches.

Villa have won eight of their last nine league fixtures, with the Gunners unbeaten in 11.

READ RAINY’S PRE-MATCH PREAMBLE HERE!

TEAM NEWS

Emi Martinez has made a quick recovery, having pulled out the Aston Villa starting XI in midweek. He starts against his old club.

Marco Bizot stands down.

Emery’s one other change sees Youri Tielemans come in for Evann Guessand.

After their midweek rests, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber are back in Mikel Arteta’s line-up at Villa Park.

Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli drop to the bench, while Cristhian Mosquera, who Timber replaces, is reportedly out for 6-8 weeks with an ankle injury.

Declan Rice is passed fit after a minor fitness scare in midweek.

There’s still no William Saliba but Leandro Trossard, who, like the French centre-back, was described as “days” away on Friday, makes the bench.

Mikel Merino starts up top again.

LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Timber, Hincapie, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Merino.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Salmon, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly.

price change predictions
524 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. kempc23
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Boomo and Senesi to Foden and O Reilly for free makes sense right? Means no Saka for next week though.

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    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      10 months, 21 days ago

      You have 5 free transfers mate

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      1. kempc23
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Yes, hence “for free”. Just making clear I havent used the 5 FTs already

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    2. Ze_Austin
      10 months, 21 days ago

      O'Reilly vs Palace with City's recent defensive form though

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      1. The Point About It Is
        10 months, 21 days ago

        JPM couldn't hit a barn door since I bought him so as long as they keep the wingbacks quiet then good chance of a MCI cleanie.

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  2. chocolove
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Timber CB

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  3. DA Minnion (Former great)
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Would love a Rogers goal today.

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  4. Ze_Austin
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Updated

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  5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Hincapie worth a try?

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Yeah, think so but Timber covering centre back with White an option muddies the water somewhat

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Yeah... Mateta Alderete out for Welbeck Hincapie is tempting!

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Yup, being left footed at LCB is a big advantage. His fitness and playing 3 games in a short turnaround is probably where there's question marks.

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  6. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    10 months, 21 days ago

    When is Mbeumo leaving for AFCON?

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    1. a wat di rass
      10 months, 21 days ago

      after this week I think

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    2. Bobby Digital
      10 months, 21 days ago

      After GW16 vs Bou

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  7. a wat di rass
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Got rid of Semenyo for this week, lost about half a mil in team value

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Textbook FPL for Semenyo to haul today and Foden to blank

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      1. a wat di rass
        10 months, 21 days ago

        yep. It's uncanny, ANYONE I take out hauls so far this season

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      2. JBG
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Have both, so hopefully both haul

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  8. Brosstan
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Timber back in, lets go and keep that cleanie Arsenal

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    1. Bobby Digital
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Let's gooo!

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  9. The Philosopher
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Mini WC is here!

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 21 days ago

      5 will be used directly, or at least 4 😛

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  10. mookie
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Dropping almost 1k in rank because I used my FT. Must be surrounded by casuals.

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    1. villa_til_i_die
      10 months, 21 days ago

      What’s your rank now then?. Live fpl won’t show for me.

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      1. mookie
        10 months, 21 days ago

        153468 > 154048(it was 1543xx when I posted this)

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        1. villa_til_i_die
          10 months, 21 days ago

          Oh ok. How do you drop rank by using your allowed transfer?, unless you take a hit?

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          1. mookie
            10 months, 21 days ago

            Fewer transfers made in case of a tie.
            Managers that were on same points as me didn't make a transfer this week and overtook me in OR.

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            1. villa_til_i_die
              10 months, 21 days ago

              Oh ok, damn casuals eh!. Here’s to a good GW.

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            2. villa_til_i_die
              10 months, 21 days ago

              Must be good casuals though to be as high as you!

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  11. money face bandwagon
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Wilson from wham good option for a striker less than 6.5m?

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    1. JBG
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Good be decent option, Nuno have them playing better.

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      1. JBG
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Could be*

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    2. Bobby Digital
      10 months, 21 days ago

      DCL better no?

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      1. money face bandwagon
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Good shout too. Just that wilson has 3 home games in the next 4 thus preferred him.

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    3. Critical Observer
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Wilson is 57 years old but could be a good shout now that Füllkrug appears as good as gone. They are looking to bring in a new striker in January, mind.

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    4. F4L
      10 months, 21 days ago

      if muniz is out until february, raul is worth a shout at that price as well

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      1. JBG
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Good shout, didn't know Muniz was injured.

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    5. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 16
      10 months, 21 days ago

      I thought Wham! was just George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley

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  12. money face bandwagon
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Gapko or neto for the next 4?

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    1. JBG
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Neto probably

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  13. F4L
    10 months, 21 days ago

    took a punt on hincapie for the upcoming fixtures until January. lets see how it goes , been promising signs so far

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Nice differential there, think he will be a good pick for now.

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  14. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Effective ownership:
    Haaland 197.4
    Muñoz 63.6
    Foden 52.0
    Raya 48.3
    Thiago 46.0
    Mateta 45.8
    Saka 43.6
    J.Timber 42.0
    Semenyo 40.5
    Woltemade 40.1
    Guéhi 38.4
    Mbeumo 37.8
    Virgil 35.4
    B.Fernandes 29.4
    Minteh 28.4
    Rice 18.9
    Enzo 16.3
    Eze 15.9
    Bruno G. 15.4
    O’Reilly 14.3
    João Pedro 13.8
    Gakpo 13.5
    Van de Ven 12.7
    Ndiaye 11.7
    Welbeck 11.5
    Cucurella 11.4
    Thiaw 10.0

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    1. lilmessipran
      10 months, 21 days ago

      My heart won't be able to take another Munoz haul

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  15. lilmessipran
    10 months, 21 days ago

    what's up with the expensive pyro?

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    1. JBG
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Celebrating Gyokeres hair on the bench maybe

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      1. lilmessipran
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Lol

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  16. JBG
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Great... Fodens ownership is 20% overall, but almost 50% around my rank -_-. Won't get much out of his points I guess.

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    1. mookie
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Ver

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      1. JBG
        10 months, 21 days ago

        I agree

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      2. mookie
        10 months, 21 days ago

        *Very optimistic to talk about points instead of point.

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  17. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Many on here thought Eze would keep captain Ødegaard out of the team, still think so?

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  18. Jet5605
    10 months, 21 days ago

    If you still had BB would you hang on to Senesi and Semenyo and play it when they have Burnley at home in a couple of weeks? Or get rid of both now?

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  19. Boomerang V
    10 months, 21 days ago

    How come I have 5 free transfers? I was supposed to have only 2.

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    1. JBG
      10 months, 21 days ago

      FPL loves you

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    2. lilmessipran
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Early Xmas gift

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    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 21 days ago

      As you didn’t use your 2 transfers before this week, you only got 3 additional instead of 5

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    4. Tonyawesome69
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Oh dear...

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/12/04/why-you-should-use-all-your-free-transfers-in-fpl-gameweek-15

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    5. My heart goes Salalalalah
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Did you save transfers this week?

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    6. wiseguy
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Happy Birthday!

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  20. a wat di rass
    10 months, 21 days ago

    If Villa win this they're pretty much in the title race

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    1. lilmessipran
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Would have to play out of their skin to hold top 4 at the end of the season

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  21. F4L
    10 months, 21 days ago

    blimey raya oof

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    1. Sgt. Schultz
      10 months, 21 days ago

      turned into Vicaraya

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  22. FantasyTony
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Arse rattled here

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  23. HD7
    10 months, 21 days ago

    I thought I have 2 FTs now I see 5?

    New rule, can you elaborate?

    Thanks

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    1. Bobby Digital
      10 months, 21 days ago

      You effectively lost a transfer as everyone gets 5 transfers this GW

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      1. HD7
        10 months, 21 days ago

        Just great. What is this new rule?

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        1. rainy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          10 months, 21 days ago

          https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4461660/fpl-managers-to-have-five-free-transfers-on-saturday-all-you-need-to-know

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        2. Critical Observer
          10 months, 21 days ago

          It’s a new chip called ”spoonfed”, activated for everyone this GW.

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    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      10 months, 21 days ago

      How do you not know?

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  24. z13
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Anybody watching can tell who is at RB and who is CB between Timber and White?

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    1. F4L
      10 months, 21 days ago

      white rb

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  25. Ze_Austin
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Raya save

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    1. Ze_Austin
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Watkins is alive

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  26. F4L
    10 months, 21 days ago

    raya!!!!! big save

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  27. Tonyawesome69
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Watkins got Timber and Hincapie on toast today

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  28. Nightcrawler
    10 months, 21 days ago

    we might finally see a miracle today...raya save points

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  29. Ze_Austin
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Saka's cross might reach my home

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    1. Ze_Austin
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Very open game. Two Saka shots soon after that cross

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  30. Tonyawesome69
    10 months, 21 days ago

    Hincapie 3 defcon
    Timber 1

    Rice on 4...

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      10 months, 21 days ago

      Rice definitely hitting defcon today...

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