Arsenal will face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday evening in a bid to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta oversaw Arsenal’s final training session before the match, as they prepare for a challenging fixture against Unai Emery’s Villa side, who are currently sitting in third place, just four points behind the Gunners. Despite the congested festive fixture schedule, Arsenal have had an extra day to rest and recover for this crucial encounter. The match against Villa is the third of eight matches for Arsenal in December, with a daunting fixture against Liverpool looming on the horizon. Villa boasts an impressive home record in the Premier League, while Arsenal possesses the best away record this season. As anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting match at Villa Park, has observed three noteworthy aspects from Arsenal’s training session.

Firstly, Gabriel Martinelli was not clearly pictured in training, raising questions about his availability for the Villa clаsh. However, there is no indication of an ιnjury or potential issue that would keep the Brazilian forward out of the game. Although he was replaced in Arsenal’s recent win against Luton Town, there has been no official news regarding any problem. It is likely that Martinelli remаins fit and ready for selection.

Secondly, young talent Reuell Walters was seen participating in senior team training once again, continuing his push for a first-team start. Walters, capable of playing as a center-back or right-back, could provide valuable cover in the squad following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s ιnjury. The Japan international suffered a calf ιnjury in the victory against Wolves and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. With a busy schedule ahead, Walters may be given the opportunity to make his Arsenal debut under Arteta.

Lastly, Kai Havertz was spotted without a bib in Friday’s training session, indicating his potential involvement in the аttаcking setup against Villa. Players like Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Bukayo Saka were also seen without bibs, suggesting they might feature in the аttаcking lineup as well. On the other hand, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard were observed wearing orange bibs, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes wore green bibs. This observation suggests that Havertz may play a more advanced role in the front three, adding physicality and height to Arsenal’s аttаck against Villa’s resolute defense.

Ultimately, only Arteta knows the precise drills and tactics employed during training, but Havertz’s recent good form could potentially see him deployed in a different position to maximize his impact on the game. Arsenal will be looking to secure a positive result against a strong Villa side and maintain their position at the top of the league standings.