Arsenal have confirmed their starting XI to face Aston Villa at Villa Park, with Mikel Arteta leaving summer signings Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa on the bench.
The defending Premier League champions make their first away trip of the season following a convincing 3-0 opening victory over Coventry City.
Arteta has resisted the temptation to immediately bring Konsa into the side against his former club, while Guimarães is fit enough to return to the squad after his recent injury.
Arsenal starting XI against Aston Villa
David Raya starts in goal behind a back four of Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori.
Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly continue in midfield, with captain Martin Ødegaard operating further forward.
Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis start either side of Kai Havertz in attack.
Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Ødegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Hincapié, Konsa, Zubimendi, Guimarães, Merino, Eze, Madueke, Gyökeres.
The biggest decision concerns Guimarães.
Arteta had described the Brazilian as potentially available after he returned to training following the problem that kept him out of the Coventry victory. Our predicted Arsenal XI against Aston Villa anticipated Arteta sticking with Rice and Lewis-Skelly rather than immediately restoring the £75million midfielder.
Konsa must also wait for his Arsenal debut despite returning to Villa Park following his £55m summer move.
Sky Sports reported earlier on Monday that the England defender was available to make his first Arsenal appearance against his former club, but Mosquera retains his starting place alongside Gabriel.
Arsenal kick off at Villa Park at 8pm, with the match shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.









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