Aston Villa vs Arsenal LIVE: Ezri Konsa makes Villa Park return as Gunners seek successive wins
Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League tonight as they look to brush off a harrowing 4-0 defeat to Brighton in their opening fixture last week.
Unai Emery’s side conceded four goals inside the first 31 minutes of the new season as they were dismantled by Brighton showing that their summer exits have cost the team its identity. Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa have departed the club this summer and the manager is now tasked with overseeing a rebuild whilst keeping the team competitive in both England and Europe.
Tonight’s encounter with Arsenal could show how well they will do this season as a competitive performance would bring confidence whilst a second capitulation in as many games would set the alarm bells ringing.
For their part, the Premier League champions, who signed Konsa from Villa, were on top form in their first match having dispatched Coventry City 3-0. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all got on the scoresheet and the formidable trio will aim to replicate that form this evening.
Follow all the action from Aston Villa vs Arsenal with our live blog below:
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League | Kick off at 8pm, live on Sky Sports
Ezri Konsa could make Arsenal debut against old club after make switch this summer
Villa lost 4-0 to Brighton in first fixture and hope to bounceback with strong performance at home
How to watch the game
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League with coverage beginning at 6.30pm.
Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
When is Aston Villa vs Arsenal?
Aston Villa host Arsenal in the Premier League with kick off at 8pm tonight.
The match takes place at Villa Park with both teams aiming for three points.
Aston Villa v Arsenal
It was contrasting fortunes for the two clubs in their first matches of the new season.
Arsenal took on Coventry and swept them aside thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, with the formidable trio aiming to be as big a threat against Villa tonight.
Villa, meanwhile, went down 4-0 to Brighton. Unai Emery’s men have also lost goalkeeper Emi Martinez and striker Ollie Watkins this week and the manager must come up with solutions or else head back into the transfer market on deadline day tomorrow.
Good evening!
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League action as Aston Villa host Arsenal in Monday Night Football.
Villa were resolutely beaten in their first fixture of the season as Brighton scored four goals in 31 minutes to beat them 4-0 and Unai Emery is hoping his team can shake off that defeat before facing the champions.
Arsenal have been one of the clubs to benefit from Villa’s summer sale when they signed Ezri Konsa and the defender can make his debut for the Gunners against his old club this evening.
We’ll have all the team news, updates and more from tonight’s contest so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.
