Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Three players Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery must axe as Premier League title race heats up

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Credit: Imago Mon 29 December 2025 18:30, UK Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery will be going head-to-head as the Premier League giants prepare to meet in a top-of-the-table clash at Emirates Stadium.Emery got the better of the Arsenal boss when the two sides met at the beginning of December, with the Villans just three points behind top spot, and just one point behind Man City.After Pep Guardiola‘s side beat Nottingham Forest, Arsenal needed to secure three points against Brighton, with Villa also winning, staging a comeback against Chelsea to reach 11 wins in a row.While there remains a seven-point gap between third and fourth, there is no telling how the Premier League title race finishes this season, but what is certain is just how huge a game it is on Tuesday, 30 December.With that in mind, here are three players that each manager should consider dropping for the clash.Credit: ImagoArsenalMyles Lewis-SkellyMyles Lewis-Skelly replaced the injured Riccardo Calafiori, but after being booked, Arteta felt the need to replace the England international for the final 20 minutes against the Seagulls.With Gabriel Magalhaes returning to the pitch, Piero Hincapie should be shifted out to the left-back spot, while one of the Premier League’s best centre-back partnerships reunite at the Emirates. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Mikel MerinoMartin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard starred in the middle of the park, somewhat casting a shadow over the other Spaniard’s performance.

He could be dropped for more creativity or more strength.Mikel Merino let his emotions get the better of him when clashing with Brighton‘s Jan Paul van Hecke, and Arteta cannot have players losing their heads against the Villans.Viktor GyokeresOther than getting taken out by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Viktor Gyokeres offered very little in the final third, with many supporters beginning to get fed up with the £55million man.Credit: ImagoThe 27-year-old has five goals to his name in 16 league matches, and fans have been expecting more after missing an out-and-out centre-forward for multiple seasons.Aston VillaIan MaatsenIan Maatsen may have been fortunate not to concede a penalty in his lasting outing, and given that he would be up against Bukayo Saka, it might be a safe decision to change full-backs.Lucas Digne is far more experienced than the Dutchman, and the real problem will be on the opposite flank due to Matty Cash‘s suspension for too many yellow cards.Emi BuendiaAlthough Emi Buendia has been a hero in recent weeks, even in the reverse fixture earlier this month, his display against the Blues will not have filled his manager with much confidence ahead of the next game.Credit: ImagoHe lasted just 58 minutes before being hooked, and in that time, he only created a single chance, failed to complete a dribble, lost all of his tackles, and committed two fouls [FotMob].Donyell MalenBased purely on Ollie Watkins‘ heroics as a second-half substitute, Emery cannot ignore the England international and therefore must drop Donyell Malen as a result.He was practically invisible at Stamford Bridge, and if the Gunners are to deploy a similar tactic, the Villans could be reduced to nine outfield players at the Emirates. Watkins is far more robust and open to a tackle.