Aston Villa: Guzan, Clark, Vlaar, Baker, Lowton, El Ahmadi, Delph, Westwood, Luna, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Bacuna, Helenius, Weimann, Albrighton, Steer, Sylla, Tonev.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Wilshere, Flamini, Gnabry, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud. Subs: Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Park.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

It must have seemed a long old weekend for Arsenal fans as everybody in the top five or six picked up wins to leave them down in third place. A win tonight would be enough to send the Gunners back to the top though as we settle in for what promises to be the best title race since, ooh, two years ago...

There are five changes for Aston Villa from their FA Cup defeat at the hands of Sheffield United as Ron Vlaar returns.

Arsenal also make five changes, with Theo Walcott beginning his long spell out. Serge Gnabry starts.

Villa XI: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Luna, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Benteke

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Wilshere, Flamini, Cazorla, Ozil, Gnabry, Giroud

Evening everyone.

After the glitz and glamour of a Fifa awards do, there's nothing like a wet and windy Villa Park and the likes of Nathan Baker and Jed Steer to bring us back to earth. The Premier League may have been shunned by the FifPro Xi, but we'll show 'em won't we?

Will we?

Pretty much like Lionel Messi, I have got to loosen my grip on the main prize and hand it over someone else. Here's Tom Rostance to talk you through Aston Villa v Arsenal. Thanks for your company.

Now we are going to dash back to good old Blighty after that special trip to the continent. Struggling Aston Villa host title-chasing Arsenal in tonight's big Premier League clash at Villa Park, where a few players (I'm thinking Mesut Ozil particularly) will be wanting to show that he is good enough to be named in 2014's Fifpro World XI.

And that concludes football's glitzy evening in Zurich - cue generic European mood music. Cristiano Ronaldo continues to take the plaudits and thanks the hand-clapping crowd for their acclaim. Even Lionel Messi manages to raise a wry smile.

Image source, Getty Images

Ronaldo wipes away the floods of tears streaming down his face as he collects the award from Pele and Michel Platini. His mother is sat in the crowd and also breaks down in floods of tears. Someone dish out the tissues please...

The Portuguese skipper has a lingering smooch with his Russian girlfriend Irina Shayk before stepping up on to stage with his little son.

After four years of Lionel Messi dominance, Cristiano Ronaldo wrestles the golden ball back from his great rival.

You can cut the tension inside Zurich's Kongresshaus with a knife. We have time for another glance at the fantastic exploits of these three men during 2013:

Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)

Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich and France)

Place your bets now folks...

Image source, Getty Images

Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, sporting a cool trilby, says she is a "little surprised" that she has beaten Marta and Abby Wambach to the biggest individual gong in women's football.

But it is richly deserved as she was pivotal in Germany's Euro 2013 win, saving two penalties in their 1-0 final win against Norway.

You can watch those saves on the BBC Sport website (UK only).

Are you ready? We are down to the last two awards. First is the women's world player of the year. The three contenders are:

Nadine Angerer (Germany)

Marta (Brazil)

Abby Wambach (USA)

Image source, PA

Pele. The best player of the 20th century and quite frankly, a walking, breathing footballing legend.

He won three World Cups with Brazil, scoring 77 goals for the Selecao in 92 caps, as well as an incredible 619 goals for Santos.

And now he finally has a Ballon d'Or for the shelf in the spare room...

Image source, AP

"I promised to my family that I would not cry, but I could not help it," says an emotional Pele. "First I must thank God for the health to play for so many years. I was jealous of those guys getting the Ballon d'Or because I couldn't win it because I didn't play in Europe. Now I have my trophy."

Image source, Getty Images

The Brazilian superstar blows kisses to a crowd who are on their feet giving him a loud round of applause - and I think there may even be a few tears from the great man. Pele never won the Ballon d'Or as it was only given to European players in his heyday. Now he has his hands on an honorary golden ball - and richly deserved it is too.

The crowd falls silent as they watch a wonderful montage of Pele's greatest moments. This video could run all night as we see clips of outrageous skill and clinical finishing.

No, it isn't Ade Akinbiyi. Of course, the "greatest player to have graced a football pitch" is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. You might know him better as Pele.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter canters back on to the raised platform to reveal who has won the mysteriously named 'Special Award'.

"One exceptional player has inspired more than anyone else to play football. His legacy speaks to us all," says Blatter.

Who can it be? Hmmm....

Image source, Getty Images

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic steps on stage to talk about his wonder goal against England. How did it feel Zlatan? How does that compare to other stunning strikes you have scored? Tell us? Nope, he doesn't open up about any of that.

Instead he gushes: "I am very proud to be here tonight and I congratulate all the other nominees and winners. For the big trophy later, may the best man win!"

I hate the term 'worldy' to describe a special goal - but I'm going to make an exception. We have just seen videos of three 'worldies' from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Nemanja Matic and Neymar, who are vying to win the award for 2013's best goal.

Unsurprisingly, the Swede takes the metaphorical crown for his remarkable 40-yard overhead kick against England.