Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Villa have got to be sure when they're playing out. Their passes have to be a little bit better.

Arsenal are going to have to show fight and heart to get back into this game.

Kai Havertz does that by sticking his foot in where it hurts, dispossessing Boubacar Kamara and feeding Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal's star boy tries to bend goalwards with his left foot, only to see the effort blocked.

This has moved into a game of chess now.

Declan Rice drops into a traditional right-back position to collect the ball and try to get Arsenal ticking.

But Villa players quickly crowd out Gabriel Jesus and win back the ball.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Villa look so assured. Having blown away Manchester City on Wednesday they've raced out the blocks this afternoon and look far more composed on the ball than their opponents.

The home supporters haven't had it this good for a long, long time.

The away fans start up a "come on Arsenal" chant, in hope more than anything. It's quickly drowned out by the Holte End.

Image source, Getty Images

Raucous cheers - or maybe jeers - as Arsenal go long and the ball is too far for even Bukayo Saka to reach.

Villa fans are loving life at the moment.

Villa taking the sting out of the contest for a few minutes, knocking the ball around at the back as they aim to keep calm and composed after that helter-skelter start.

Look away Arsenal fans...

Aston Villa haven't lost any of the last 20 Premier League games in which they've opened the scoring.

Unai Emery's side have won nine in a row after netting first.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Very cute reverse pass and there he was McGinn great turn. Just a super, super start.

They wanted to dictate it, they've wanted to be quick.

How do Arsenal react?

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Scenes! Villa Park is going crazy.

Image source, Getty Images

Chance for Arsenal! They've soaked up pressure and then sprung forward at the right opportunity.

Bukayo Saka cannot connect with Gabriel Martinelli's cross from the left and slashes wide.

Arsenal have barely been out of their half. Villa probing down the left but Lucas Digne's cross is hacked away.

Chance for Arsenal to attack...

A confident start from Aston Villa. Not surprising for a team in this form.

Another examination of David Raya sees the Arsenal keeper unconvincingly elect to punch a high ball clear instead of letting William Saliba head away.

It was a chance - but not taken. A poor delivery and Arsenal clear.

Villa straight on the front foot. Corner.

Instant chance to put some pressure on David Raya with a wicked delivery into the danger zone?

A wind whipping around the pitch too.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is sat up in the posh seats tonight. He is suspended after picking up a yellow card - for celebrating his team's winner at Luton. Ridiculous IMO.

Arsenal go into a huddle as Martin Odegaard relays some last-minute instructions.

The Gunners need a win to go back to the Premier League summit remember.

Odegaard turns the teams around, meaning Villa will kick towards the Holte End in the first half.

Do they not like that, the Villa fans.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa are hoping to set a club record of 15 successive home league wins with a victory over Arsenal today.

Last time out they brilliantly beat champions Manchester City 1-0 at Villa Park and Unai Emery names an unchanged XI.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Tielemans; Watkins.

Subs: Marschall, Cash, Moreno, Lenglet, Diaby, Zaniolo, Durán, Dendoncker, Ramsey.

After Liverpool's earlier win, Arsenal will need to beat Villa if they want to end the day top of the Premier League table.

Mikel Arteta makes one change to the side that needed a very late winner to beat Luton in midweek.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is preferred at left-back with Jakub Kiwior dropping to the bench.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Subs: Ramsdale, Nketiah, Kiwior, Soares, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Walters.

Those pyrotechnics kick out some heat but still not enough to take the edge of a chilly night in the West Midlands.

Villa defender Pau Torres takes off his tracky top to give to the mascot who is shivering away. Ahh, cute.

Here's a reminder of the two teams...