In a midweek match at the Emirates Stadium against an old opponent Steven Gerrard and a faltering Aston Villa, Arsenal puts its perfect Premier League season on the line (Watch live at 2:30 pm ET Wednesday online via Peacock Premium).
After defeating Palace, Leicester, Bournemouth, and Fulham, the Gunners now focus on a Villa team that is painfully falling short of expectations.
Comparable foes don't make for compelling pro-Villa reading. Villa has only defeated Everton, who are currently in the bottom three, and lost to Bournemouth, West Ham, and Palace.
The Villa Park booing, according to Gerrard, is understandable, but everyone should do their part, including his teammates.
With three points from a very takeable 12 points, Villa is in trouble. The possibility of three points from 18 remains large as the Villans face Arsenal and Manchester City in four days.
Villa was popular before the season for a reason. Ollie Watkins is a force up top, and the pieces around him are imaginative.
Arsenal has skillfully avoided some common mistakes while coming back strongly late to defeat Fulham and earn all three points. An easy victory at home would be ideal for Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard are arguably in the best shape of their careers for Arsenal, while Villa is searching for guys other than Ollie Watkins and John McGinn to contribute. Even so, Emiliano Martinez may have no greater opportunity to come back than against his former squad.
Oleksandr Zinchenko must pass a last-minute fitness test, while Reiss Nelson, Thomas Party, and Mohamed Elneny are also out.
While Gerrard waits for Philippe Coutinho, Cameron Archer, and Tyrone Mings, Diego Carlos is still sidelined. All three of those might be accessible.
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