So...Sunderland lost, Reading lost to Wigan in injury time, and Manchester United came back to beat Queens Park Rangers. In other words, all three points would be very, very helpful to the Villa right now. Take a look at the lineups -- is this the team that can beat Arsenal? Or are you disappointed by Paul Lambert's decisions?
Take note: not only is Darren Bent not starting, he's not even in the squad. Injury set back? Or something more sinister? You decide.
Aston Villa Starting XI: Brad Guzan, Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Ciaran Clark, Enda Stevens, Karim El Ahmadi, Ashley Westwood, Barry Bannan, Andreas Weimann, Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke.
Villa substitutes (from): Shay Given, Stephen Ireland, Marc Albrighton, Brett Holman, Fabian Delph, Jordan Bowery, Eric Lichaj.
Arsenal Starting XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal substitutes (from): Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin, Andrei Arshavin, Vito Mannone, Gervinho