Aston Villa hand debuts to Suzuki and Jackson for Premier League meeting with Arsenal

Aston Villa named two debutants in their starting lineup for their Premier League match against Arsenal at the 8pm BST kick-off on 31 August 2026.

Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and striker Nicolas Jackson were selected to start, with Marco Bizot dropped to the bench and João Gomes suspended after being sent off at Brighton.

Villa named Alejandro Garnacho, Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka among their substitutes. Arsenal were unchanged from their three‑goal win over Coventry, with Bruno Guimarães back from injury and on the bench waiting to make his first Premier League appearance for the Gunners, and Ezri Konsa — a Villa player ten days earlier — also on the bench.