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6 December 2025 524 comments
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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.


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  1. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Surely Saka hauls here

  2. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    We include Watkins on FH16?

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      Not at his best, otherwise would have scored.

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      U wot m8

      1. Prinzhorn
        • 4 Years
        18 days, 1 hour ago

        Hahaha

  3. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Rice with 5 DCs already

    1. How Green Was My Arrow
      • 1 Year
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      Rice cooking nicely.

      1. Monklane
        • 16 Years
        18 days, 1 hour ago

        I see what you did there.

  4. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    This Arsenal doesn't look defensively as tight as normally. Not 100% sure that double up is the way to go. Watkins not at his sharpest atm/yet.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      Did you watch the Brighton Villa game?

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        18 days, 59 mins ago

        Nope, there was another match going on.

  5. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Seems like Hincapie is the one dealing with Watkins or Watkins is targeting Hincapie today

  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    This game looks like it has goals. Watch both sides tighten up big time at half time though...

    1. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      0-0

    2. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      Still waiting for my Calafiori goal

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        18 days, 58 mins ago

        So am I. I've owned him since GW6 WC and he's been a huge disappointment in terms of attacking.

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 11 Years
          18 days, 55 mins ago

          What a player though

        2. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          18 days, 54 mins ago

          Timber has one assist since gw8 when I bought him. Or basically swapped with Raya for a hit.

        3. Prinzhorn
          • 4 Years
          18 days, 52 mins ago

          There is more chemistry with Trossard than with Eze

  7. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Saka A Eze G ..but offside

  8. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Eze offside goal

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      18 days, 1 hour ago

      Saka was offside with the assist

  9. F4L
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    timber started really well

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    I have timber and saka
    Which third arsenal asset?

    A calafiori
    B rice
    C eze
    D 2 is enough

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      18 days, 51 mins ago

      Maybe D then....

  11. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 1 hour ago

    Eze is a passenger in this game

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      18 days, 59 mins ago

      Isolated on the LW

  12. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 59 mins ago

    No way merino keeps his spot up front , right?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      18 days, 53 mins ago

      When will Arteta give starts/mins to Gyokeres, Jesus and Havertz when available

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        18 days, 52 mins ago

        Yeah he might still play but deeper obviously

  13. F4L
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 58 mins ago

    arsenals midfield seems pretty open tbh

  14. Sandy Ravage
    • 9 Years
    18 days, 56 mins ago

    Rogers & Watkins are tempting...

  15. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    18 days, 53 mins ago

    Arsenal players falling down all over the pitch

    1. Prinzhorn
      • 4 Years
      18 days, 51 mins ago

      Nobody in the world is a Merino fan right?

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        18 days, 49 mins ago

        Correct

  16. F4L
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 52 mins ago

    arsenal not had 1 set piece situation

  17. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    Arsed

  18. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    Cs busted?

  19. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    Well, there it is

  20. F4L
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    cash g
    torres a

  21. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    Megg nutts Raya

  22. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    18 days, 51 mins ago

    Arsenal clean sheet wipe would be delicious and glorious

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      18 days, 50 mins ago

      OMG that timing lmao

  23. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Raya stinks so bad why do I still have double defence

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      18 days, 50 mins ago

      Ask yourself

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 9 Years
        18 days, 49 mins ago

        Triple defence on WC10 ruined my season

  24. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Eze to blame

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      18 days, 49 mins ago

      Sleeping

  25. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Timber gtfo of my team. Lost the RB security, no attacking points since gw2

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      18 days, 49 mins ago

      Not with wolves next surely?

  26. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    I hate Raya. He is sooo sold this week.

  27. Sgt. Schultz
    • 9 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Good ebening already

  28. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Eze stinking up double arse defence

  29. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Eze sleeping again

    1. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      18 days, 49 mins ago

      eZZZZZZZe

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        18 days, 48 mins ago

        😉

  30. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    18 days, 50 mins ago

    Eze ball watching there