By OkayGoal
Arsenal travel to Villa Park tonight facing an Aston Villa side that appears to be throwing a few surprises into the mix, with reports suggesting Alejandro Garnacho could be handed a rare start alongside a first Villa start for Nicolas Jackson, who was brought in to fill the void left by Ollie Watkins.
Nikolas Jackson to start for Aston Villa vs Arsenal tonight
According to insider afcxcl, Jackson looks set to lead the line for Villa this evening, with John McGinn also expected to feature, but it is the possibility of Garnacho starting that will raise a few eyebrows around the Emirates travelling support.
A player of that unpredictability being trusted from the off against a title winning Arsenal side is exactly the sort of curveball Emery has built a reputation on over the years.
There is a certain irony to facing Emery under these circumstances too. Few managers in the Premier League understand Arsenal’s habits quite as intimately as he does (having spent time at the helm himself) and Villa Park has never been the most straightforward venue for Arteta’s side to visit, regardless of league position or reputation.
For Arsenal, the message from within the camp throughout this title defence has been one of consistency and control rather than complacency, and a Villa side potentially starting Garnacho alongside a new arrival up front in Jackson represents exactly the sort of banana skin fixture that can derail a good run if respect is not shown early.
Arsenal have the experience to cope with it
There is also plenty for Arsenal to be encouraged by. This is a squad that begun the season with genuine authority, brushing aside Coventry and lifting the Community Shield and performances of that calibre suggest the depth and quality are there to handle whatever selection tricks Emery has up his sleeve tonight.
Garnacho starting will be watched closely by more than just Villa supporters. A player of his talent given license to cause problems against a defence as well organised as Arsenal’s would be some way to make a mark early in his Villa career, and Gooners will hope their side gives him little room to make any sort of statement.
Kick-off approaches with plenty of intrigue then, and for Arsenal, three points on the road would be exactly the kind of statement result to keep the title defence firmly on track.