Arsenal are without a win in their last three top-flight games, having dropped points in just three of their opening 19 league fixtures this season.

This is the first time since 20 August that they are starting a round of fixtures not on top of the Premier League table.

The Gunners have lost successive away games in all competitions, as many as in their first 14 this term. They last lost three away games in a row in December 2021, while they've not done so without scoring since December 2009.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport

When Emi Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in September 2020 he attached a laminated list of targets to his locker, and one of them was to become the best goalkeeper in the world.

At the time, that might have seemed like an admirably lofty but somewhat unlikely ambition for someone who had never even been the number one keeper at his club, let alone on the entire planet.

Martinez's move to Dean Smith's newly-promoted team came a few days after he turned 28. The previous decade had seen him make just 13 Premier League starts for the Gunners - who loaned him out six times to the lower leagues or abroad.

Just two and a half years on, however, the charismatic Argentina international might soon need a new career objective as he prepares to face his former club this weekend.

That same locker at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground is now bulging with winners' medals from the World Cup and Copa America and, after being awarded the Golden Glove trophy for being the best keeper in Qatar, he has just been named on a shortlist of three for the individual accolade he craves at the 2022 Fifa Best Awards.

Read the article here.

This has turned into a crucial game for Arsenal, who are without a win in four matches in all competitions.

It's not the case that they have lost form - I was at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for BBC Radio 5 Live and in the first half they were very good, although Manchester City controlled things after the break.

It doesn't really matter how well the Gunners play here, though. They just need to find a way to win.

It's really important for their manager and the fans, but also the players too. They are a young team, who had a fantastic first half of the season, but the longer they go without a victory, the more pressure they will come under.

Villa will be awkward opponents, however, as they showed when they played City on Sunday. They carried a threat in the second half and could have made it a tense finish.

I can see them causing Arsenal problems too and my head is telling me this will be a draw, but I am going to follow my heart - and my heart wants there to be a title race this season.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read all of this weekend's predictions here

Who do you think are favourites now for the title?

Feel free to send in your thoughts on all things Premier League football to #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate).

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta said earlier this week that he will "only be satisfied" if his Arsenal side are given two points back for the VAR error that allowed Brentford's equaliser to stand in Saturday's Premier League match.

Referees' body PGMOL has apologised to Arsenal after "human error" was to blame for the incorrect VAR decision.

"It wasn't human error, it was not understanding your job," said Arteta. "That's not acceptable, I'm sorry.

"It cost Arsenal two points that are not going to be restored so we are going to have to find those two points somewhere else in the league."

Lee Mason appears to have paid the price for his mistake when operating VAR during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford last weekend after leaving referees' body PGMOL by mutual consent.

Mason did not draw the guidelines to check for offside on Ivan Toney's equaliser.

"We would like to thank Lee for his dedicated service to the professional game and wish him all the best for the future," PGMOL said.

There's no guarantee that if the goal was ruled out that Arsenal would have gone on to take the three points, of course, but it could yet prove a costly mistake in the title race.

Unai Emery makes five changes from the Aston Villa side that lost at Man City this week.

Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno, John McGinn and Philippe Coutinho come in for Ashley Young, Calum Chambers, Lucas Digne, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Moreno, Mings, Konsa, Cash; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz; Buendia, Coutinho, Watkins

Subs: Sinisalo, Traore, Chambers, Young, Digne, Bailey, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Duran

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal make two changes after also losing to City, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Martinelli replaced by Ben White and Leandro Trossard

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Saliba, Gabriel, White; Xhaka, Jorginho, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Nketiah

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Kiwior, Holding, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Nelson

Image source, BBC Sport

Jose Enrique
Former Liverpool and Villarreal left-back on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal can still do it. If you asked me a month ago I said Arsenal would be champions, now I see the table, Arsenal have a game in hand but Manchester City are very used to these fights with Liverpool.

Arsenal are not used to it. I really want Arsenal to win the league as it's someone different and not always Manchester City but it will be very difficult for them.

Manchester City are the favourites to win the Premier League, it's Manchester City's to lose.

Here's the full line up today:

All kick off times 15:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.

Aston Villa v Arsenal (12:30 GMT)

Brentford v Crystal Palace

Brighton v Fulham

Chelsea v Southampton

Everton v Leeds

Nottm Forest v Man City

Wolves v Bournemouth

Newcastle v Liverpool (17:30 GMT)

Good morning!

It is a busy day of Premier League action with eight games taking place and plenty at stake at the top and bottom of the table.

Both Arsenal and Manchester City are in action with, as mentioned, the Gunners at Aston Villa before Pep Guardiola's side head to Nottingham Forest at 15:00 GMT.

There's another big game at the same time as Sean Dyche's Everton host Leeds with both side's looking to boost their survival hopes.

Image source, Getty Images

It has been quite the week for Arsenal.

From sitting clear at the top of the table to VAR controversy and then losing first place to Manchester City, the Gunners are in arguably a crucial test of their character and title credentials.

They kick off today's Premier League action with a trip to Aston Villa.