Aston Villa get their home campaign underway on Monday night as they get set to host reigning Premier League champions Arsenal at Villa Park.
There will be plenty of changes, and not just because the North Stand is undergoing construction. Villa’s starting lineup will look markedly different from last season and there should also be some changes from their first game of the Premier League season, a 4-0 thrashing at Brighton.
New signing Nicolas Jackson was registered before Friday’s 12pm deadline and is therefore expected to make his debut from the start against the Gunners.
His inclusion provides a real boost for Villa, who were without a recognised striker in the heavy defeat at the Amex, with Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo out injured and Ollie Watkins refusing to play as he looked to finalise a transfer to Al Hilal, which is now set to be completed.
Abraham and Madjo are once again expected to be out with injury. The former is also weighing up a loan move to Ipswich Town.
There are availability issues in midfield as well, with Joao Gomes serving a three match ban after being shown a red card during his nightmare debut against Brighton.
Amadou Onana is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury, and while summer signing Johan Manzambi is back on the grass at Bodymoor Heath as he ramps back up from a knee injury of his own, he is still not ready to be involved.
With all that in mind, Leon Goretzka looks set to be thrown in at the deep end after signing earlier this week and partner Boubacar Kamara in central midfield.
Zion Suzuki should make his debut in goal after Marco Bizot was preferred on matchday one, presumably due to the Japanese goalkeeper only joining earlier that week from Parma.
Fellow new signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka was not in last week’s squad, and while it is unlikely he is ready to truly compete for Matty Cash’s right-back spot at this early stage, he should at least have a place on the bench versus Arsenal.
Similarly, Ian Maatsen is likely to continue at left-back ahead of recent addition Matteo Ruggeri, who came on to make his debut late in the Brighton game. With Villa yet to source a replacement for Ezri Konsa, it will likely be Victor Lindelof deputising once again alongside Pau Torres.
John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia should be two of the three attackers starting behind Jackson.
Arguably the biggest decision for Emery to make is whether Alejandro Garnacho is ready for his first start on the left wing after coming on for a few minutes against Brighton, or if 19-year-old George Hemmings starts once again.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Arsenal:
Zion Suzuki, Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara, Leon Goretzka, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia, George Hemmings, Nicolas Jackson.
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