After one victory in eight league games Villa's season is already looking wan but if they subject Arsenal to the kind of barrage which stunned Manchester United a fortnight ago they could win. John Carew is available after a four-match absence and Robert Pires could reacquaint himself with his former team. Arsenal are suffering the sort of injury problems which have been plaguing their opponents, with Cesc Fábregas missing again and Emmanuel Eboué likely to be out for two months. A third defeat in eight days would give Arsène Wenger another worry line. David Lacey

Venue Villa Park, Saturday 12.45pm

Tickets £25-45 (0800 612 0970)

Last season Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0

Referee M Clattenburg

This season's matches 11 Y31, R2, 3.00 cards per game

Odds Aston Villa 13-5 Arsenal 5-4 Draw 12-5

Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic

Aston Villa

Subs from Guzan, Ireland, Pires, Beye, Delfouneso, Lichaj, Osbourne, Lowry, Herd, Clark, Baker

Doubtful Beye (ankle), Agbonlahor (illness), Hogg (ankle)

Injured Cuéllar (calf, 6 Dec), Heskey (knee, 11 Dec), Reo-Coker (knee, 11 Dec), Albrighton (appendix, 18 Dec), Delph (knee, Jan), Petrov (knee, Jan), Sidwell (achilles, Jan), Weimann (ankle, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide LDWDDL

Disciplinary record Y27 R0

Leading scorer Downing 4

Arsenal

Subs from Almunia, Szczesny, Gibbs, Djourou, Rosicky, Vela, Eastmond, Bendtner, Lansbury, Van Persie, Denílson

Doubtful Almunia (elbow), Clichy (back)

Injured Diaby (ankle, 13 Dec), Fábregas (hamstring, 26 Dec), Eboué (knee, Jan), Frimpong (knee, May), Vermaelen (achilles, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LWWLWW

Disciplinary record Y29 R4

Leading scorer Chamakh 6

Match pointers

• Villa have won only one of their last 23 Premier League meetings with Arsenal and have not beaten them at home since December 1998

• Marouane Chamakh's goal after 30 seconds of the match with Wolves on 10 November was the quickest in the top flight this season

• Villa have drawn 10 of the 16 home league games they have played in 2010

• Games involving Arsenal this season have seen more red cards (eight) than those of any other team

• Villa have hit the woodwork more times (nine) than any other side in the division