Unai Emery has several major selection calls to make when Aston Villa host Arsenal on Monday night, with Nicolas Jackson pushing for an immediate debut after completing his £65million move from Chelsea.
Villa need a response after opening their Premier League season with a 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
That starting XI was missing a recognised centre-forward, while João Gomes’ red card has now forced Emery into at least one midfield change.
Jackson has since arrived and was registered in time to be available against Arsenal.
The question is whether Emery throws him straight into the starting XI.
Nicolas Jackson should make immediate Aston Villa debut
It would be a surprise if Jackson had been signed for such a significant fee only to leave Villa without a natural striker again.
Emiliano Buendía operated as the false nine at Brighton, but Villa failed to register a shot on target during the 4-0 defeat. Sky Sports’ team sheet from the Amex shows the extent of the makeshift attacking set-up Emery used.
Jackson gives Villa an immediate reference point.
His pace should also provide a threat behind an Arsenal defensive line missing William Saliba and Jurriën Timber.
Sports Mole also expects Jackson to be handed his full Villa debut, although there are several other positions where Emery’s decision is less straightforward.
Zion Suzuki is one.
Marco Bizot endured a difficult afternoon at Brighton and Villa invested heavily in Suzuki this summer. With Emiliano Martínez leaving for Chelsea, Monday could be the moment Emery installs the Japan international as his new first-choice goalkeeper.
Leon Goretzka decision for Arsenal
The biggest call could come alongside Boubacar Kamara.
Gomes begins a three-match suspension following his dismissal at Brighton, leaving Villa without the midfielder against Arsenal, Hull City and Nottingham Forest.
The full availability picture is covered in our Aston Villa vs Arsenal team news guide.
Leon Goretzka is an obvious candidate after completing his free transfer from Bayern Munich.
However, asking the 31-year-old to immediately start against the reigning Premier League champions would be a significant demand after limited recent competitive minutes.
I would therefore expect Lamare Bogarde to start alongside Kamara, with Goretzka introduced from the bench.
That would give Villa greater continuity while providing Emery with an experienced option if the game needs changing.
Ian Maatsen should also retain his place at left-back.
Villa have made their faith in the Netherlands international particularly clear by preparing a new contract after Manchester United explored his availability.
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Arsenal
I would expect Emery to retain much of the defensive structure from Brighton despite that result.
Victor Lindelöf and Pau Torres should continue together in central defence, with Matty Cash and Maatsen either side.
Further forward, John McGinn and Ross Barkley provide experience around Jackson, while Buendía can return to a more natural attacking-midfield role after being asked to lead the line last weekend.
ReadAstonVilla predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Suzuki; Cash, Lindelöf, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Bogarde; McGinn, Barkley, Buendía; Jackson.
That would mean three changes from the side which started at Brighton: Suzuki for Bizot, Bogarde for the suspended Gomes and Jackson for George Hemmings.
Goretzka, Alejandro Garnacho and Matteo Ruggeri would then give Emery considerably stronger options from the bench than he had a week ago.
Arsenal remain favourites after starting their title defence with a 3-0 win against Coventry, but Villa’s squad already looks substantially different from the one embarrassed at the Amex.
Jackson’s first appearance could now become the centrepiece of Emery’s attempt to produce an immediate response at Villa Park.
