Aston Villa and Arsenal name teams for second-round meeting

The starting line-ups have been announced for Aston Villa’s English league meeting with Arsenal, with the second-round fixture scheduled for the evening of 31 August.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has selected a team in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Zion Suzuki starts in goal, behind a defence of Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen.

Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley form the holding midfield partnership, while captain John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and George Hemmings are named in the attacking midfield positions.

Nicolas Jackson leads the line for Villa.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opted for a 4-3-3 system. David Raya is the goalkeeper, with Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori selected across the back four.

Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice make up Arsenal’s midfield three. Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are named alongside Kai Havertz in the front three.

The match is due to begin at 22:00 Moscow time.

Aston Villa starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Zion Suzuki; Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen; Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley; John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia, George Hemmings; Nicolas Jackson.

Manager: Unai Emery.

Arsenal starting XI

Formation: 4-3-3

David Raya; Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis.

Manager: Mikel Arteta.

Both sides’ selections confirm the tactical shape they will use from the start, with Villa lining up with two deeper midfielders behind a three-man attacking unit and Arsenal choosing a three-player midfield and wide forwards.

The fixture takes place in the second round of the competition. Aston Villa’s team combines experience in defence and midfield with Jackson as the central attacking option, while Arsenal’s XI includes Saka and Havertz in the forward line, supported by Odegaard and Rice.

The LiveResult portal will provide text coverage of the match.