Reigning Premier League champions Arsenal continue their title defence with a trip to Birmingham, where they face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday.
Unai Emery's side have caused Arsenal plenty of heartbreak at home, including a last-gasp 2-1 win last season, but their 0-4 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in their season opener raised plenty of concerns about their side.
Arsenal, meanwhile, strolled to a 3-0 win over Coventry City in their opening game as Mikel Arteta's side threw down the gauntlet to the rest of their rivals as the team to beat.
Here's everything you need to know about the match.
How to watch:
The match will be available to watch on Sky Sports in the U.K., NBC/USA in the U.S.A., JioHotstar in India, and Stan Sport in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live updates here.
Key Details:
Date, kick-off time:
U.S. ET: Monday, August 31, 3 p.m.
UK BST: Monday, August 31, 8 p.m.
India IST: Tuesday, September 01, 12:30 a.m.
Australia AEST: Tuesday, September 01, 5 a.m.
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
Referee: Jarred Gillett
VAR: James Bell
Injury and Team News
Aston Villa
Unai Emery confirmed the departure of Ollie Watkins, as well as Nicolas Jackson replacing him, in his pre-match press conference, with the club hoping to ensure his registration in time to face Arsenal. Emiliano Martínez is also set to join Chelsea, with Tammy Abraham nearing a loan move to Ipswich Town.
João Gomes, M: suspended, OUT
Emiliano Martínez, GK: knock, DOUBT
Tammy Abraham, F: knock, DOUBT
Leon Bailey, F: muscle, DOUBT
Amadou Onana, M: ACL, OUT
Johan Manzambi, F: knee, OUT
Brian Madjo, F: knock, OUT
Arsenal
Bruno Guimarães, M: knock, DOUBT
Jurriën Timber, D: ankle, OUT
William Saliba, D: back, OUT
Expected Lineups
Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Zion Suzuki
Matty Cash | Victor Lindelöf | Pau Torres | Matteo Ruggeri
Boubacar Kamara | Leon Goretzka
John McGinn | Emiliano Buendía | Alejandro Garnacho
Nicolas Jackson
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3)
David Raya
Ben White | Cristhian Mosquera | Gabriel Magalhães | Riccardo Calafiori
Declan Rice | Martin Ødegaard | Myles Lewis-Skelly
Bukayo Saka | Kai Havertz | Christos Tzolis
Talking Points
Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Emery?
The nerves of Villa fans would have been jangling the moment Unai Emery named his season-opening lineup against Brighton, and they were torn to shreds in the ninety minutes that followed as Villa fell to a 0-4 defeat.
However, with the signings of Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson, the club have plugged sizeable holes in their squad, and might require the pair to go straight into action - as Ollie Watkins (who refused to play against Brighton) has left for the Saudi Premier League, and Joao Gomes is suspended following his red card in the opening game.
Emery might also have had the time to bed in Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri and Alejandro Garnacho into his squad, and the trio ought to be favourites to start, especially after the incumbents in their positions -- Marco Bizot, Ian Maatsen and George Hemmings -- didn't exactly cover themselves in glory against Brighton.
Villa Park tends to raise itself when Arsenal come to town, and Emery ought to bank on a febrile atmosphere to bounce back after the opening day defeat.
Arsenal's best opportunity at Villa Park in years
Mikel Arteta's side have had some crushing defeats away to Villa in the last few years, including a 1-2 defeat with the last kick of the game last year -- which had left the title-chasing side on the floor as Emi Buendia celebrated. Arsenal had the last laugh, winning the title, but Arteta will no doubt want to get one over his predecessor.
Villa's summer of upheaval in their playing lineup will no doubt cause issues to Emery's usually tactically astute playing XIs, and Arsenal look best placed to take advantage. The prospect of an aging Goretzka up against Arsenal's midfield army (even with or without Bruno Guimarães) doesn't look pretty and Arteta's side could run riot if the German is not up to speed immediately.
Arsenal look the most settled side in the Premier League, and they can ram the point home with victory in Birmingham. While transfer machinations continue to rumble off the pitch (with Arsenal also in the mix for Julián Álvarez), Arteta's side look the real deal on the pitch, and Villa could find that out the hard way.
What do the numbers say?
Mikel Arteta will take charge of his 250th Premier League game, becoming only the tenth manager to do so (for a single team). Amongst those, only Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp can boast of a better win ratio.
Unai Emery has lost 50% of his PL games in August (8/16) - his worst record in any month.
Villa have won four of their last seven home games against Arsenal.
Arsenal have 15 PL wins at Villa Park, the club's most at an away venue.
Arsenal have won their first away game of the season in the last four seasons - they have never done it in five consecutive campaigns.