Here we go. The visitors get us under way.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Sir Dave Brailsford is due to be at the game today.

Brailsford has been the visual face of INEOS since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed 25% purchase of Manchester United was confirmed on Christmas Eve.

In theory, INEOS are not making decisions yet but it does seem the heavy hand of Ratcliffe and Brailsford is already making its presence felt at Old Trafford.

It's only a minor detail but important in the football politics world but am told the European Clubs' Association is keen to have a United presence within its executive in some capacity.

Ed Woodward stepped down from roles with the ECA and European football's governing body UEFA in the wake of the ill-fated Super League launch.

Although English clubs have been welcomed back into the fold, United have not been involved in any of the decision making bodies.

Clinton Morrison
Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a real battle today up front between Hojlund and Watkins, let's see who comes out on top.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Villa Park

For many Manchester United fans, Villa Park evokes memories of famous FA Cup semi-final victories.

The famous stadium hosted 55 of them, with United the last team to win one, against Watford in 2007, before they were all switched to Wembley.

They also beat Arsenal here in the Gunners' 2004 Invincibles season, Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the 1995 and 1996 tournaments and, most famously of all, Arsenal in the epic 1999 semi-final replay, with the Ryan Giggs wonder goal sealing it in extra-time.

The teams coming out of the tunnel at a pumped up Villa Park.

Villa are in traditional warm-up clobber, the visitors are in 'Stone Roses' inspired track-suit tops.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in 38 goals in 47 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa under Unai Emery (24 goals, 14 assists), averaging a goal or assist every 107 minutes.

In terms of Villa players to play at least 1,000 minutes under a manager in the Premier League, only Christian Benteke under Tim Sherwood (goal/assist every 96 mins) has a better average.

Manchester United

I heard Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana talking a little earlier suggesting that the club's forward players are now finding their form and that would appear to be backed up by the statistics.

Over their last five Premier League matches, United have scored 13 goals, converting exactly 20% of their shots in that time (65 attempts). In their five games beforehand, they only scored two goals with a conversion rate of 3% (73 attempts).

Still big question marks at the other end of the pitch mind. In the match at Old Trafford, Onana (who has made a series of high-profile mistakes since arriving from Inter Milan) has not exactly looked at home behind a leaky United defence that are of course now missing Lisandro Martinez again.

The absence of the Argentine's ability to read the game, his composure and ability to play out cannot be underestimated. It'll be interesting to see just how they cope against a very good Villa attack this afternoon.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "I'm extremely happy. The way we performed, the way we played. Such a big score in a really difficult place tells you a lot about how well the boys played today.

"It's great to make [club] history especially the way we have done it. We're in a good moment and we you have good moments you have to build and maintain the momentum. The team from the beginning looked really sharp. We had to put right the last two results against them and that was a good motivation for the boys.

"When you talk about consistency at his [Bukayo Saka] age...what he has done in the last two or three seasons in remarkable. His attitude, his quality, what he delivers every week...it's really difficult to find. That's why he is so important to us.

"It's always difficult to come back to your old club. The fans were really good to him [Declan Rice] When he went to take the corner they clapped him so it's great to see that kind of reception. He loves this club so much and I know what it meant to him to play today.

"We have to share the goals. That desire and that commitment to get into the box to make things happen, it was excellent."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports: "We are tying to be consistent. We are fighting. At the beginning they were more contenders than us but now we are in front of them. It is very important for both teams.

"Here at Villa Park with our supporters we will try and connect with full energy and try to play comfortable. We will try to focus on our game plan and respect them.

"At Villa Park it is special and we have a responsibility to connect with them."

Arsenal

Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard, speaking to Sky Sports: "Brilliant performance. From start to end we dominated and controlled everything. Today, we were really sharp in front of goal. I'm proud of the team. Coming from a big game [against Liverpool] and a big win and backing it up today with a great performance.

"We are focusing on ourselves. We don't care too much about the other teams. We keep working hard. It's a good win but we move on."

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

If the club lead by example and give him a new contract, six weeks ago we said give him a new contract and sort it out. You can't always please every supporter, they haven't done that and after a day like today, they've left it open. They've done it before to David Moyes, when they were in sixth he should've said I'm going to go, but thanks for everything. He loves the day to do job of it all and the work of it.

Recruitment and planning is not done in the right way. This game today, it goes on for a long time. Why haven't they reacted before this. We haven't seen any clarity. The fans are speaking, the club are listening. The fans pay their money and are entitled to do what they want, some of them and enough of them are making their voices heard.

Arsenal

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, speaking to Sky Sports: "We were 4-0 up in the first half and we could have scored more. We smelled blood today and went for the kill."

On passing 50 Arsenal goals: "I am really happy to achieve that. I missed some chances that I could have scored but it is a great achievement and I am proud of that."

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Kobbie Mainoo is going to learn so much from the aura of Casemiro. The timing of their careers will be really good for each other.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Manchester United come into this game nine points off behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with a game in hand, and eight adrift of Aston Villa, who they beat at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.

Victory for Erik ten Hag's side would give them a realistic chance of muscling their way into contention over the final third of the season.

"It's very important to play Champions League, that is clear," said Ten Hag

"We don't know exactly the impact it is at this moment, but of course you have more financial power when you were achieving the Champions League.

"That is all our target absolutely."

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports: "We have to catch up. We know what position we are in. We got ourselves into it and now we have to step up."

Asked if today's match is a must win, United's Dutch boss says; "Yes, but that should be the approach for every game because we have to catch up."

Image source, Getty Images

Playing next to Casemiro can "accelerate the development" of Kobbie Mainoo, says Manchester United managed Erik ten Hag.

Five-time Champions League winner Casemiro has returned to the United starting XI after missing much of this season with injury, and formed a handy partnership alomgside exciting youngster Mainoo in central midfield.

"Casemiro is a very important player for our game, so we are happy he's back and Kobbie Mainoo can learn a lot from that togetherness," said Ten Hag.

"Kobbie is very coachable and Casemiro has so much experience and that can even accelerate his development. When they play together, I think they can benefit each other.

"Casemiro has taken to him [Mainoo]. He's talking to him. I see it in the dressing room. I see it on the pitch.

"In the training, also in games. Of course he's looking at his own game, but he's trying to help and to support."

Eighteen-year-old Mainoo has recovered from his own injury issues suffered in pre-season to force his way into Ten Hag's team, scoring his first goal in the FA Cup win at Newport and his second shortly after in the dramatic win at Wolves.

"I had that confidence because I saw him performing," added the Dutch manager. "I saw him performing in autumn. I saw him progressing during spring and in summer, I had the game from Arsenal in my mind so I didn't have any doubt.

"We are now building a team. What it can really offer is foundation for players to come in. We built a foundation that we really can add quality [to] and place into the squad to bring the team to the next level."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Villa Park

It is a measure of Manchester United's dominance in matches between these two teams that if Aston Villa win, it would be the first time they have beaten the Red Devils in successive home games since 1976-1977, which is quite incredible really.

An Aston Villa victory today would put them back into pole position for the fourth Champions League spot at the end of the season.

Manchester United very much need to pick up three points to keep their hopes of finishing in the top four alive. A defeat today, would be a hefty blow to Erik ten Hag's side.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

After looking like a man struggling for confidence Rasmus Hojlund's winner against Aston Villa in the reverse fixture has kick-started a decent scoring run of five goals in six games.

He has also found the net in his last four Premier League appearances after failing to score in any of his first 14 games in the competition and is youngest player to score in four in a row for the Red Devils.

Manchester United could probably do with him continuing that run today albeit 10 goals in 28 matches in all competitions isn't too shabby for so far for the 21-year-old in his debut season with the club.

Still some way to go mind before the Dane is being mentioned in the same terms as say a Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored in 10 games on the spin, and hit 36 goals in 49 games, in his opening season with the club many moons ago.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Villa Park

At the start of the season, I am pretty sure if someone had said ahead of this game one of the sides would be bang in contention for a Champions League qualification slot, most would have expected it to be Manchester United.

Instead, it is Aston Villa, who will go back into the top four if they avoid defeat after Tottenham nudged above them with their late winner against Brighton yesterday.

Villa boss Unai Emery is rightly proud of his team - underlining they did not get into their present position due to luck.

"We are in fourth (at time of writing) position in greatest league in the world," he says in his programme notes.

"Nobody gave us these points for free. They are not a gift fallen from the sky or a late Christmas present.

"We earned it in every match we played."