Arsenal Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as his side host Aston Villa tonight in the Premier League

Arsenal Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as his side host Aston Villa tonight in the Premier League.

Following the disappointing 1-0 loss suffered at home to Leicester City, the Gunners are enjoying a good run of form having won their last three matches.

Arsenal fans will be keen not to get too far ahead of themselves, given two of those three victories were in the Europa League, but the win at Old Trafford was a big boost for the North London side.

Arteta’s outfit are firm favourites going into tonight’s clash with Aston Villa, with the Birmingham side starting to falter after their superb start to the campaign.

With games coming thick and fast for side’s in Europe, Arteta will have lots of decisions to make in terms of who’s starting at the Emirates tonight.

So which players will he task with getting Arsenal a positive result against Dean Smith’s team?

Here we predict the Spaniard’s starting XI…

Goalkeeper:

Bernd Leno is Arsenal’s undisputed number 1 and will start the match tonight. The German will be looking to secure his first league clean sheet of the season since the opening day 3-0 win at Fulham.

Defenders:

Arteta has switched between a back three and a back four almost on a game-to-game basis for the last month or so. We feel, the Spaniard will name a back three tonight and look to give attacking players the licence to push forward. Gabriel will start this evening and we feel Rob Holding will be trusted alongside Kieran Tierney in the same defensive three that got the clean sheet at Old Trafford. That leaves the versatile Bukayo Saka on the left and Hector Bellerin on the right.

Midfielders:

The double act of Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey were absolutely sensational at Old Trafford and we expect the pair to start again this evening. However, players such as Joe Willock have performed very well in the two Europa League games either side of the victory over United and will be hoping for a chance tonight.

Forwards:

Arteta has real options in the forward position, with summer singing Willian performing consistently and Nicolas Pepe starting to find his feet in an Arsenal shirt. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will start tonight and hoping to get on the scoresheet and Willian will provide width on the other side. That leaves Alexandre Lacazette to provide the focal point in attack for the Gunners.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Leno; Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Tierney, Saka; Elneny, Partey; Aubameyang, Willian, Lacazette.