Aston Villa team news - Dean Smith makes controversial call in attack for Arsenal

Aston Villa team news - Here are the two teams for this evening's clash at Villa Park with Villa needing to avoid defeat to keep their survival hopes alive

by · birminghammail

Dean Smith has stuck to his guns and has kept faith with Mbwana Samatta up front for tonight's do-or-die clash with Arsenal.

The Aston Villa head coach has named an unchanged starting XI to the one that drew 1-1 with Everton last Thursday.

It means Tanzanian Samatta gets the nod up front despite a disappointing showing up at Goodison Park. The 27-year-old struggled for large parts on Merseyside with his replacement, Keinan Davis, winning the free-kick which led to Villa's goal. Against Arsenal, Davis is on the bench.

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As for tonight's starting XI, Pepe Reina is in goal and he'll be behind a flat back four of Ahmed Elmohamady, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett.

In midfield, Villa might well play Douglas Luiz and Conor Hourihane behind a more advanced John McGinn who, at Everton, was used as a No.10 for large parts.

On the flanks, captain Jack Grealish goes in search for his first goal in 14 league games while, on the opposite side, Trezeguet gets another start. Samatta, as mentioned, will lead the line.

Here are the teams in full, below.

Aston Villa, 4-3-3 : Reina; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Hourihane, Trezeguet, Samatta, Grealish.

Subs: Nyland, Hause, Guilbert, Lansbury, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Jota, Vassilev, Davis.

Arsenal, 3-4-3 : Martinez; Holding, David Luiz, Kolasinac; Soares, Cabellos, Torreira, Saka; Nketiah, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Tierney, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Xhaka, Smith, Pepe .

Referee : Chris Kavanagh

VAR : Craig Pawson