Arsenal

Arsenal's Thomas Partey, speaking to BT Sport: "Today gives us a great opportunity to get back to winning ways. Aston Villa beat us earlier in the season but we have learned a lot from our mistakes.

"I've played a few games now and I'm getting used to the Premier League. It's not easy but the coach and my team-mates are helping me."

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Pop quiz - who is this and what's his connection to today's game between Aston Villa and Arsenal?

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It's back to football today at Villa Park, which is also playing its part in the fight against coronavirus.

Aston Villa's ground is also doubling up as a Covid-19 vaccination centre and the first patients started arriving for their vaccines this week.

Villa's chief executive Christian Purslow said: "This club's been at the heart of our community for nearly 150 years and serving the community to the best of our ability and I think today, at this terrible time for all, providing a convenient venue to provide vaccinations is the best possible use of our football club."

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As per usual, if you've got anything you want to say about today's games or just fancy taking umbrage with any of my nonsense then feel free to get involved via #bbcfootball or text in on 81111 (UK only).

Aston Villa

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings, speaking to BT Sport: "We are trying to find a level of consistency in our performances and striving for improvement.

"When you look back on where we were last season, there has been an improvement but we are trying to fine-tune our performances. That doesn't come overnight.

"We know our most recent results have been disappointing but we are trying to put that right."

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Two changes for Aston Villa as boss Dean Smith shuffles his pack for his team's sixth game in 18 days.

Bertrand Traore and Marvelous Nakamba return to the side as Douglas Luiz and Anwar El Ghazi drop to the bench. Nakamba is making his third Premier League start of the campaign.

Former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martínez is seeking his 11th Premier League clean sheet of the season.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, McGinn, Traore, Barkley, Grealish, Watkins.

Substitutes: Heaton, Luiz, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Engels, Sanson, Elmohamady, Davis, Ramsey.

Image source, .

Arsenal are without keeper Bernd Leno and defender David Luiz who are both suspended.

Leno's absence paves the way for Mat Ryan to make his first appearance for the Gunners since joining on loan from Brighton.

Gabriel returns to the side, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is once again on the substitutes bench.

Arsenal XI: Ryan, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Thomas, Xhaka, Saka, Smith-Rowe, Pepe, Lacazette.

Substitutes: Ceballos, Odegaard, Willian, Runarsson, Aubameyang, Chambers, Pablo Mari, Elneny, Martinelli.

Mick McCarthy is also on Football Focus and is always good value.

Speaking of internet memes, Mick McCarthy's deep house track, external is up there with one of the strangest - and yet oddly satisfying - out there.

In a clip of many highlights, I think my favourite part of the original Handforth Parish Council meeting is when the one chap suddenly turns into Gollum as he fumes: "We are trying to have a Teams meeting you fool!"

The power of the internet is a wonder.

A couple of days ago Jackie Weaver was going about her business in Cheshire as a relative unknown, fast forward 48 hours and she is an online sensation thanks to her part in the chaotic and unintentionally hilarious online Handforth Parish Council meeting.

Football Focus, coming up at 12:30 GMT today, have done their own take on it. Watch above.

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Official team news for the game's first day will be dropping in just under 10 minutes but here's what we do know while we wait for it.

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith has reported no new injuries but he may freshen up his side in the wake of a lacklustre defeat by West Ham.

Bertrand Traore, Trezeguet and new signing Morgan Sanson could all start.

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno and defender David Luiz are both suspended as a result of their red cards at Wolves on Tuesday.

Leno's absence means either Alex Runarsson or Mat Ryan will start, although the latter has a hip problem.

Good morning! All good?

We had an actual day off from Premier League action yesterday but the top flight is back with a bang today as Aston Villa versus Arsenal kicks off a run of five games. Here's what's coming up:

12:30 GMT:

Aston Villa v Arsenal

15:00:

Burnley v Brighton

Newcastle v Southampton

17:30

Fulham v West Ham

20:00

Man Utd v Everton

Image source, Getty Images

When Arsenal faced Aston Villa back at the start of November, they suffered a chastening defeat that sparked a terrible run of form that had them hurtling towards the Premier League relegation zone.

Fortunately for Gunners fans things picked up but a defeat to Wolves last-time out ended a run of seven league games unbeaten.

A game against Villa started a downward spiral earlier this season, will it spark an immediate bounce back to winning ways this time?