Mikel Arteta has some injury troubles to deal with in his Arsenal side when they take on Aston Villa in a crunch Premier League clash(Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
12 players expected to miss Arsenal vs Aston Villa title clash after double Gunners blow
Arsenal take on Aston Villa in a huge match in the context of the Premier League title race, but both teams are dealing with injury and suspension issues that will impact their team selection
The festive fixture list is putting teams through their paces, especially in the Premier League title race, with three sides firmly in the heat of battle at the very top. Among them are Arsenal and Aston Villa, who make up the top three after an impressive first half of the campaign.
The Gunners have gone close to winning a first league title in 20 years, but haven't managed to get themselves over the line under Mikel Arteta so far. Their rivals, Villa, have been a thorn in the side of the manager in recent seasons, with Unai Emery picking up four wins in eight meetings against him.
The latest came earlier this month, where a dramatic late win saw Villa close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table. The reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium will create a challenge for both teams in the race for the title, with both managers facing some selection issues.
A mixture of injury troubles and suspension concerns are impacting both Arsenal and Villa going into the match. So, with that said, here's a look at who could miss out on the big game...
Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber is a fresh injury concern for Arsenal after missing out against Brighton over the weekend. The right-back is believed to be a short-term injury concern, so he could be back in contention again, but it remains to be seen if he will.(Image: (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Another issue at full-back came for Arsenal in the warm-up for the clash with Brighton, as Riccardo Calafiori had to leave before the match. It appears to be an issue that has caused some discomfort, and his availability is unclear.(Image: (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images))
There is a return on the cards for Kai Havertz over the next few weeks, with the striker stepping up his recovery. A knee injury has left him out of action for the majority of the season, but his return to training signals potential availability soon.(Image: (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Cristhian Mosquera picked up a foot injury earlier this month, which looks set to sideline him for a few more weeks. The defender could return in the New Year, but is out for the Villa game.(Image: (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Another defensive injury for Arsenal means Ben White is out, following a hamstring problem. Fortunately, Arteta said it wasn't a major problem, but he could miss out against Villa next time out.(Image: (Photo by Harry Murphy - Danehouse/Getty Images))
Youngster Max Dowman has enjoyed a breakthrough season, but an ankle injury has come as a fresh blow for him. The Arsenal wonderkid is now set for a spell on the sidelines, which will see him return after the New Year.(Image: (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images))
Matty Cash will be missing for Villa's trip to Arsenal, after picking up his fifth booking of the season. His suspension will mean a headache for Emery to pick his replacement, following what has been an impressive season so far.(Image: (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images))
Boubacar Kamara is suspended for Villa against Arsenal, after he also picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.(Image: (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images))
There is only one AFCON call-up for Villa to contend with, as Evann Guessand has joined up with the Ivory Coast national team for the competition.(Image: (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images))
Ross Barkley's knee injury has come as a huge blow for the midfielder. He is now set to be out until roughly February, as he recovers from the issue he picked up.(Image: (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
In the defensive ranks, Villa have a couple of concerns, including an issue for Pau Torres. The centre-back is set to miss out on another two weeks of action, as he recovers from a muscular problem.(Image: (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images))
Adding to the problems in the backline is an injury to Tyrone Mings. Like Torres, the centre-back is expected to return in a couple of weeks, but he will miss out against Arsenal.(Image: (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))