Arsenal v Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Sunday, 27 December Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Sky Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day 2
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas could return from the hamstring strain that ruled him out of the win against Hull.
Full back Armand Traore is hopeful of making his comeback from a similar problem, while Bacary Sagna should be restored to the starting line-up.
Emile Heskey is unlikely to feature for Aston Villa due to a groin strain, so John Carew will start.
Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Stephen Warnock are all one booking from an automatic suspension.
Arsenal
Suspended: None Doubtful: Fabregas & Traore (both hamstring)
Injured: Bendtner (groin), Clichy (back), Djourou (knee), Gibbs & van Persie (both ankle), Rosicky (hamstring)
Aston Villa
Suspended: None Doubtful: Heskey (groin)
Injured: Bouma (toe), Davies (shoulder)
These two sides meet over the Christmas holiday period for the second successive season.
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I think moving into a new stadium and keeping the team at the top in the last four years is, for me, my best period at the club
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
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Villa came from two goals down to earn a draw in front of their own fans last Christmas, having won at Arsenal the previous month.
If Martin O'Neill's side can repeat last season's success at the Emirates, they will become the first Premier League club to defeat each of the Big Four sides in a single season since Leeds United in 1994-95.
Arsenal, though, have hauled themselves into title contention this month, capitalising on the struggles of Chelsea and Manchester United, as they seek to win their first trophy since 2005.
Despite that barren stretch, Arsene Wenger believes the last four years have been his best period in charge. The home side will seek to ramp up the feel-good factor before kick-off by parading Arsenal legend Frank McLintock, captain of the double-winning side of 1970/71, who celebrates his 70th birthday on Monday.
Head-to-head
• Aston Villa are unbeaten on their last three visits to Arsenal (W1, D2).
• Villa's 2-0 win at Arsenal last season is their only victory against the Gunners in the last 21 league matches (W1, D7, L13).
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606: DEBATE
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Arsenal
• Arsenal have won seven of their last nine post-Christmas games and not lost since 1999 (3-2 at Coventry).
• They have scored more goals (79) and lost fewer matches (five) in the Premier League this year than any other club.
• They are the division's leading scorers with 44 goals.
• Aaron Ramsey celebrates his 19th birthday on Sunday.
Aston Villa
• Villa are unbeaten in their last seven league matches (W5, D2). If they win this game it will equal their Premier League club record of five successive victories, set in 1996 and again in 1998.
• Martin O'Neill's side have not conceded a goal in their last four league matches. If they keep a clean sheet in this game it will match their Premier League club record five-match streak from August to September 1998.
• They have only won one of their last nine post-Christmas fixtures
(4-0 at home to Everton in 2005).
• They have the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding 14 goals.
• Nigel Reo-Coker could make his 250th league appearance.
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Arsenal
Fabregas: 10 goals (7 league);
van Persie: 8 goals (7 league); Arshavin: 8 goals (6 league)
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Aston Villa
Agbonlahor: 9 goals (8 league); Milner: 6 goals (4 league)
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Mike Mullarkey & Mike Bull
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
Arsenal (W3-0 v Hull, h): Almunia; Eboue, Vermaelen, Gallas, Silvestre, Song, Denilson, Nasri (Ramsey 68), Diaby, Eduardo (Walcott 75), Arshavin (Vela 83). Subs not used: Fabianski, Sagna, Wilshere, Emmanuel-Thomas.
Aston Villa (W1-0 v Stoke, h): Friedel; L Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing (Sidwell 81), Agbonlahor, Heskey (Carew 23). Subs not used: Guzan, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye, Collins.
Aston Villa scorers: Barry 65 pen, Knight 90.
Arsenal scorers: Denilson 40, Diaby 49.
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