Bukayo Saka and Rob Holding return while Nicolas Pepe has been benched as Arsenal prepare to take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Mikel Arteta has made six changes to the side that started in the 2-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup, as Arsenal get set to lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park. There are no alterations in goal as Emiliano Martinez starts once again in the absence of Bernd Leno.

A couple of changes have been made in the three-man central defensive unit, as Rob Holding and Sead Kolasinac come in for Shkodran Mustafi and Kieran Tierney. David Luiz is the third man in the back-three, with Holding on Kolasinac on either side.

Up ahead in midfield, Dani Ceballos keeps his place, but Granit Xhaka has been rested, with Lucas Torreira coming in for him. The duo are flanked by two new wing-backs, as Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles drop down to the bench, with Bukayo Saka and Cedric Soares starting in their stead against Aston Villa.

Finally, in the Arsenal attack, the solitary change sees Eddie Nketiah replace Nicolas Pepe. Alexandre Lacazette starts, meaning Nketiah is likely a straight swap for Pepe on the right wing, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left.

Arsenal Starting Lineup: Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Kolasinac, Cedric, Ceballos, Torreira, Saka, Nketiah, Lacazette, Aubameyang

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