Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal – Premier league: Live score, team news and updates as Gunners knock on the door in search of an equaliser after John McGinn broke the deadlock inside seven minutes

Trossard replaces Martinelli for Arsenal.

The Brazilian has looked dangerous so that’s a bit surprising perhaps.

Arsenal now have a free kick in a dangerous position with Rice and Odegaard lining it up.

But it’s blocked by the wall and trickles through to Martinez.

A great run from Diaby as he beats Saliba to McGinn’s ball over the top.

The Frenchman lays it off to Watkins who fires at goal, but Raya collects at the second attempt.

More subs for Villa and they look like they need this fresh energy.

Cash replaces Konsa at right back, while Dendoncker comes on for Kamara in central midfield.

A heart in mouth moment for Aston Villa.

The ball is played over the top and Saka is in behind.

He beats Martinez to the ball and takes it around him before slotting home but he’s offside.

VAR verify that decision quickly and it’s another victory for Villa’s high line and offside trap.

Luiz then gets booked for kicking the ball away and he too will miss the Brentford clash next week.

Fantastic running from McGinn to get away from Rice.

Diaby receives the ball on the right and the ball is recycled before Digne fires at Raya who makes a great save.

So close again from Arsenal!

Zinchenko plays in Havertz who makes a great run in behind.

He plays it across to Odegaard who has a huge chance 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy but he somehow scuffs his shot wide.

Almost disastrous for Aston Villa!

Martinez comes to claim a corner but he flaps at it and it hits the back of Watkins and goes onto the post.

The ball trickles along the line but Carlos is there again to hook it clear.

Arsenal are starting to turn the screw.

Villa are starting to look a little leggy which is no surprise given their midweek exploits.

Emery resopnds by bringing on Ramsey for Tielemans to add energy to their midfield.

The youngster is just back from injury.

Digne picks up a yellow after Saka beats him and he cynically grabs onto his shirt and doesn’t let go.

He will miss the game against Brentford next week now!

A free kick in a dangerous position for the Gunners but they get it all wrong as they attempt to go short but Odegaard is tackled. Dreadful!

A dangerous ball is played in behind but Konsa does brilliantly to recover and intercept it.

Martinez then does brilliantly to claim a cross from Saka with Jesus lurking.

Villa have been a little guilty of giving the ball away when playing out from the back today so they just need to watch that.

Arsenal start brightly after Aston Villa give the ball away and they want a penalty!

It looks as if Luiz has gone through the back of Jesus – although it is only small contact – and Carragher on commentary thinks it is a spot kick.

However, VAR say no and play continues.

Arsenal have begun this half well though as Martinez comes out to smother from a dangerous ball over the top.

We’re all set for a huge 45 minutes of action.

Arsenal need to be better though and more clinical and quicker in attack.

There’s been one sub at the break with Diaby on for Bailey, who was limping slightly before half time.

And that’s that for the first 45!

A brilliant early goal from McGinn after a fine Aston Villa move put the hosts ahead.

Since then, Arsenal took a while to click into gear but Martinez made three good saves and the hosts will be happy to get into the break.

It’s been a tightly-fought encounter so far and there’s not much in it.

All to play for in the second half.

Great pressing from Watkins has Saliba all over the place.

Somehow the Frenchman panics and plays the ball past Raya and out for a corner.

Aston Villa’s players surround Raya but the Gunners defend the corner well and clear.

Villa need half time here I think.

Good play from Arsenal again as Zinchenko finds Jesus over the top.

The Brazilian cuts inside Carlos and fires at goal but Martinez pulls off a sprawling stop.

Aston Villa are causing themselves some problems here.

This time Konsa loses ball. It comes to Havertz, who feeds Jesus at the edge of the six-yard box.

He feeds Odegaard. The Arsenal skipper takes a touch and aims to fire it in the bottom corner but Martinez pulls off a brilliant save.

Watkins is then denied by Raya at the other end but he was offside anyway.

Arsenal are really causing some problems here.

It’s a good ball in behind from Gabrieland Martinelli beats Martinez, who is again second to the ball.

The Brazilian lobs it over his Argentine counterpart but Carlos is there to hook the ball away with his right foot.

Some warning signs for Aston Villa though.

They’re getting a little bit of joy down their right.

White gets in behind McGinn and just about keeps the ball in play.

He feeds Saka, who lays it onto Odegaard. The Gunners skipper cuts inside and fires a shot at goal and it hits the side netting with Martinez at full length.

Close from the Norwegian!

Better from Arsenal who win the ball high up twice in quick successions.

The ball comes to Saka who cuts inside Torres but he fires straight at Martinez, who holds well.

Saka the only attacking Gunners star who has come to the party so far.

Zinchenko goes into the book after cynically dragging down Tielemans after he was turned.

Arsenal are struggling to get to grips with this shape-shifting formation from Aston Villa.

Plenty to ponder for Arteta high up in the stands.

Good intricate play from Arsenal.

They find a way to break through Villa’s rigid line as Jesus finds Saka.

He beats Martinez to the ball but Diego Carlos makes a crucial interception from his pull-back.

Saka did look slightly offside so it’s likely that would’ve been checked and ruled out if anything did come from it anyway.

Saka then misplaces a poor pass, which comes minutes after Rice gave the ball away.

The Gunners need to be a bit sharper and better here.

Tielemans is dragged down by Havertz, who is lucky to escape a yellow card.

Bailey looks desperate to take it but is eventually told to step away by Digne and Luiz.

After all of that, Digne fires at the wall and Luiz sees his follow-up effort blocked by Saka.

Kamara had the ball nicked off him by Havertz and the German drove his side forward.

He played in Saka but Torres made a good block.

White had a follow-up shot, but it was scuffed and went over the bar.

Meanwhile, Gunners supporters are getting irate at Martinez’s supposed early time-wasting.

Let’s take another look at that goal.

Not much to report since the goal.

The Gunners are trying to get hold of possession, but Villa are up to the task so far.

The Arsenal fans are trying to rouse up their side.

It’s the in-form John McGinn. Brilliant from Villa.

Intridcate football from them and the balls goes out to Bailey.

It’s great work from the winger. He finds McGinn at the edge of the six-yard box.

The Scot turns and swivels brilliantly, before firing past Raya.

This has been a bright start from the hosts and they are really pinning in Arsenal.

But in a flash, the Gunners are almost in. They break and Saka plays a glorious cross-field ball to Martinelli.

The Brazilian cuts inside and fires a ball back to his fellow winger.

Digne switches off and Saka has a free shot at the far post about eight yards out, but he scuffs his shot wide.

Bright start from Aston Villa as Bailey wins a corner.

Bailey up against Zinchenko promises to be an interesting battle.

But it’s a poor delivery from the Jamaican and Jesus heads away.

Mikel Arteta is up in the stands…

Villa Park is absolutely bouncing and we’re almost ready to get underway.

Jamie Redknapp is not so sure but Karen Carney urged the Villa fans to dream…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been a revelation for the club ever since joining, initially on loan, in 2021.

He was appointed club captain ahead of the 2022-23 season when previous incumbent Alexandre Lacazette departed and has led from the front.

In total, he has racked up 27 goals and 17 assists in 99 Premier League appearances.

He is all set for his 100th this evening in the West Midlands.

Arsenal with be without Mikel Arteta on the touchline tonight as he is banned.

However, the Gunners boss hit out at his punishment at his pre-match press conference, claiming he is being singled out for punishment.

‘We are (allowed to celebrate) but I think we have a boundary. Maybe we have to extend,’ he said. ‘We just need a very strong rope, or we don’t move. But it means we don’t move — all of us.’

When asked if other bosses have been invading the pitch, he commented: ‘This is why I say we.’

Read the full story on his ban below…

It’s been a dramatic day of action so here’s a recap of all the results…

12:30PM – Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool

Man United 0-3 Bournemouth

Sheffield United 1-0 Brentford

Wolves 1-1 Nottingahm Forest

Aston Villa have been earning plaudits for their ability to snuff out opponents defensively and also cause them plenty of problems going forward, evidenced by their lofty position in the league.

A key part of this has been their flexibility with formations in and out of possession.

While they tend to line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, it is hard to pinpoint that when they are in action with Emery’s complex system encompassing plenty of moving parts.

Mail Sport columnist Martin Keown broke down how the ‘shape-shifting Villans’ are baffling opponents below.

There’s been a whole glut of Premier League fixtures this afternoon already, with Liverpool beating Crystal Palace late on in the early kick off, while the 3PMs are coming to a close.

We’ll be sure to update you at full time but there’s a few upsets on the cards with Bournemouth 3-0 up at Old Trafford against Man United.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United are beating Brentford in Chris Wilder’s second game back at the club.

Unchanged for the Villans as Unai Emery looks to get one over his former club.

Martinez also lines up against the team he belonged to for nine years, although the Argentine only made 38 appearances during that time.

(4-4-1-1) – Martinez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Tielemans; Watkins

Subs: Marschall, Cash, Alex Moreno, Lenglet, Diaby, Zaniolo, Duran, Dendoncker, Ramsey

Just the one change for Arsenal as Zinchenko replaces Kiwior who earned a rare start at Luton.

But apart from that, it’s the same team as four days ago with David Raya keeping his place despite his two errors at Kenilworth Road.

(4-3-3) – Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Kiwior, Walters, Jorginho, Elneny, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah

Tomiyasu is still out with a calf problem.

Unai Emery – who left his role as Arsenal boss four years ago this week – has got something special going at Aston Villa.

Not only did he take them from relegation trouble last year to the Europa Conference League, but they are even being touted as potential title contenders this season in some parts.

This has no doubt been helped by their 14 consecutive home league wins.

In fact, they have lost just four home matches at Villa Park in 2024 – league games against Leicester and Arsenal, along with an FA Cup defeat to lower league Stevenage and an EFL Cup loss to Everton in September of this year.

A formidable record for the Villans.

Arsenal enjoyed one of the more chaotic clashes during the midweek round of Premier League action as they edged out Luton 4-3 right at the death.

Declan Rice scored the winner in the 97th minute and sparked pandemonium in the away end.

It’s the second time the £105m man has secured a vital victory for the Gunners in injury time, with the midfielder also firing home in the dying embers of a victory over Man United in September.

There’s no doubt this evening’s clash at Villa Park is the game of the Premier League weekend with both sides flying high right now.

Aston Villa secured a memorable 1-0 victory over Man City on Wednesday which was their 14th consecutive home league win and they sit in the lofty heights of third place.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have won six in a row in all competitions and possess the league’s best away record.

It promises to be a tantalising clash.

And welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Aston Villa’s crunch clash with Arsenal.

Stay with us for all the build-up and live updates from throughout the game at Villa Park.