Arsenal started their third straight Premier League title challenge in the perfect way with a 2-0 win over Wolves but face a far tougher test as they travel to the west midlands to face Aston Villa in their own back yard. A venue where the Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat in one of two losses to Unai Emery’s side last season, which proved decisive in their hunt for their league-winning ambition.
Mikel Arteta saw his side return to training this week as they looked to prepare for the trip north. As usual, the Arsenal website provided fans with a glimpse behind the scenes in training with photographs of the early week sessions.
The England international was withdrawn from the clash with Wolves at the weekend after what looked to be an issue with his right calf. Declan Rice could be seen pointing to his leg after going to ground and as a precaution, the midfielder was substituted for Gabriel Jesus.
However, it was understood to be nothing serious and the images from the Sobha Realty Training Centre certainly supported this as Rice was present in many of the photos. This will be a huge boost as the 25-year-old will be key to Arsenal’s hopes of winning at Villa.
