And away we go.

Not long until we get started now so a quick reminder of how the teams are lining up...

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Tavares, Partey, Sambi Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Subs: Leno, Odegaard, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Soares, Pepe, Elneny, Kolasinac, Martinelli.

Image source, .

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Mings, Tuanzebe, Targett, Cash, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Watkins, Ings.

Subs: Steer, Sanson, Young, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Hause, Bailey, Archer, Ramsey.

Image source, .

Lee Dixon
Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

The signings Aston Villa have made with the Grealish money have been very good. Dean Smith has done a great job here and has the club at his heart.

Daniel Cheng: I think with Odegaard being dropped to the bench it allows Smith Rowe to play more centrally where he operates best. Saka on the right and Auba on the left with Laca leading the line. Sometimes with Odegaard and ESR in the same team there's not room for both

The floodlights are flashing and the sounds streaming from the pa system are akin to a Saturday-night television talent show.

The teams are about to head out.

Arsenal left it late to rescue a point against Crystal Palace on Monday night with Alexandre Lacazette scoring deep into injury time to secure a 2-2 draw.

But Aston Villa know all about late goals themselves having conceded three in the final 10 minutes to lose in their West Midlands derby against Wolves last Saturday.

Be interesting to see how this one pans out and if we have any more late drama.

Those writing reports in the press box will be hoping not.

Definitely not a job I'd enjoy though the severance pay at the top level isn't too bad is it!

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says managers are being put off taking jobs because of the sort of abuse suffered by Steve Bruce at Newcastle.

Bruce left the club on Wednesday and, in an interview with the Telegraph,, external detailed the strain put on him and his family during his two-year tenure.

Arteta says current and prospective coaches have told him they are thinking twice about becoming managers.

"Yes, a lot of people think like that," he said.

Arteta, 39, added: "I heard a lot and I have a lot of friends who are doing the courses, who doubted whether they want to take the hot seat or whether it is better to be an assistant or something else.

"For me, this cannot be the barrier, because you have fear about the treatment you are going to receive. I think the enjoyment as well is that big, that it should not stop you.

"But it is important that we take care a little bit of the environment and putting things in the right place. If not, I don't think it will get better. I think it will get worse if we don't do anything about it."

The water sprinklers are giving the pitch a good soaking. I'd have thought the pitch would be slick enough after the recent rainy weather.

Image source, Getty Images

Now for something slightly more appealing...

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has won 75% of his Premier League meetings with Arsenal (three out of four).

Only Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has a better win rate against them (91%) of those to have faced the Gunners at least four times.

Sorry to throw this stat your way Aston Villa fans...

It's filling up nicely at Emirates Stadium and looks like Arsenal have welcomed some very special guests this evening...

Image source, Getty Images

This match is of course a replay of Arsenal's first ever competitive match at Emirates Stadium.

New stadium, new era of dominance was very much the suggestion at the time but things haven't quite worked out like that for the hosts, a bit like in that match, with Gilberto Silva salvaging a draw after Olof Mellberg had put Villa ahead.

Arsene Wenger and Martin O'Neil were the men in the dug outs and the visitor's side that day contained the likes of Gareth Barry and Juan Pablo Angel.

Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb, Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry and Emanuel Adebayor were all playing for the hosts.

Bet Mikel Arteta wouldn't mind some if not all of that lot in his present squad.

Lee Dixon
Former Arsenal and England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

There has to be goals with the attacking players that are on show. You can't help but think it is going to be 3-3.

Image source, Getty Images

Each of the last nine Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates has seen at least three goals scored.

Bodes well.

Not bad eh.

Image source, BBC Sport

Daniel Cheng: Hoping Laca's involvement will spark a bit of energy upfront. He gives a bit more than Laca when the going gets tough and better at holding the ball up.

Peter Devon: Not even a villa fan but every time I see McGinn play he's outstanding! He's so underrated and would start any top 6 midfield....maybe not city.

Image source, Getty Images

Talking of Aaron Ramsdale, the Gunners keeper is out warming up with his compression leggings on and getting into his calf stretches. You know the one, back leg pointing at the heel of your front leg.

I thought static stretching was a thing of the past.