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Arsenal chase perfect EPL start, face new-look Villa
Arsenal chase perfect EPL start, face new-look Villa
Arsenal will look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season when they travel to face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday (8pm), with Unai Emery’s side entering the fixture after a major summer squad overhaul and a 4-0 opening-day defeat.
Arsenal, who opened their campaign with a win over Coventry, have won their first away game in each of the last four Premier League seasons and kept a clean sheet on each occasion.
They have never won their opening away game in five consecutive league campaigns, a Monday preview on the club website noted this.
Villa, meanwhile, have seen several key players leave the club since their impressive 2025/26 campaign, which ended with Champions League qualification and the Europa League title.
Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea for £117m, Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United, Lucas Digne moved to Paris Saint-Germain, while Ezri Konsa is now an Arsenal player. Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez have also departed.
Only five starters from Villa’s Europa League final victory over Freiburg remain at the club.
Villa have also started the new campaign poorly, losing 4-0 away to Brighton after conceding all four goals before half-time.
Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against his former club after his move, while Bruno Guimaraes could also make his Premier League debut for Arsenal after returning to training following a groin issue sustained in the Community Shield.
Jurrien Timber is nearing a return from a groin injury, although Monday’s game could come too early, while William Saliba remains out with a long-term back issue.
Villa will be without Joao Gomes after the midfielder was sent off against Brighton, while Amadou Onana is expected to miss the season with an ACL injury.
Johann Manzambi is also unavailable, while Tammy Abraham is struggling with a groin problem and Brian Madjo missed the opening league fixture with a knock.
New signings Nicolas Jackson, Zion Suzuki, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Leon Goretzka could make their Villa debuts.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Emery as one of the Premier League’s most experienced and successful managers, saying Villa’s performance last season was “an incredible season.”
“This is the best squad that we have, or we believe that we could have right now, and that’s it. That’s not the best squad that we’re going to have in a month’s time because hopefully the players will improve, the team will improve and we’ll be better.
Adamawa Assembly Moves to Repeal College of Education Hong Law
BREAKING NEWS: Bridge Collapse Cuts Off Maiha-Mubi Road, Community Stranded
Adamawa Govt Pledges Stronger Media Partnership Ahead of 2027 Elections
Governor Fintiri Pardons Nine Inmates, Commutes Death Sentence to Mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary In commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day celebration, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has granted pardons to nine inmates serving various terms in correctional facilities across the state. A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, said the Governor ordered the immediate release of the pardoned inmates, noting that all legal formalities had been concluded with the Nigerian Correctional Service. “The Governor acted on the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 212(1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement said. According to the statement, those granted pardon and discharged include Abubakar Dajo, who was serving at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Jos; Zabadi Ayuba and Salvation Nyamso, both serving at the Numan Custodial Centre. Others are Amir Idris, Mohammed Saidu, Yaro Sambo, Buhari Salisu, Urube Samuel and Bamaiyi Amos, who were discharged from the Jimeta, Ganye, Guyuk, Yola Old and Kojoli Custodial Centres, respectively. In addition to the pardons, Governor Fintiri approved the commutation of the death sentence imposed on one inmate, Saidu Abdullahi of the Yola Old Custodial Centre, to life imprisonment. The Governor’s action, the statement noted, was in the spirit of the Independence anniversary and reflects the government’s commitment to mercy, justice and the rehabilitation of offenders. The pardons and commutation take immediate effect, the statement added.
Adamawa Assembly Moves to Repeal College of Education Hong Law
BREAKING NEWS: Bridge Collapse Cuts Off Maiha-Mubi Road, Community Stranded
Adamawa Govt Pledges Stronger Media Partnership Ahead of 2027 Elections
Governor Fintiri Pardons Nine Inmates, Commutes Death Sentence to Mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary In commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day celebration, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has granted pardons to nine inmates serving various terms in correctional facilities across the state. A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou, said the Governor ordered the immediate release of the pardoned inmates, noting that all legal formalities had been concluded with the Nigerian Correctional Service. “The Governor acted on the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 212(1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement said. According to the statement, those granted pardon and discharged include Abubakar Dajo, who was serving at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Jos; Zabadi Ayuba and Salvation Nyamso, both serving at the Numan Custodial Centre. Others are Amir Idris, Mohammed Saidu, Yaro Sambo, Buhari Salisu, Urube Samuel and Bamaiyi Amos, who were discharged from the Jimeta, Ganye, Guyuk, Yola Old and Kojoli Custodial Centres, respectively. In addition to the pardons, Governor Fintiri approved the commutation of the death sentence imposed on one inmate, Saidu Abdullahi of the Yola Old Custodial Centre, to life imprisonment. The Governor’s action, the statement noted, was in the spirit of the Independence anniversary and reflects the government’s commitment to mercy, justice and the rehabilitation of offenders. The pardons and commutation take immediate effect, the statement added.
Adamawa Assembly Moves to Repeal College of Education Hong Law
BREAKING NEWS: Bridge Collapse Cuts Off Maiha-Mubi Road, Community Stranded
Adamawa Govt Pledges Stronger Media Partnership Ahead of 2027 Elections