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Aston Villa v Arsenal
Villa Park
Saturday, 1 December
Kick-off: 1715 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for the game against Aston Villa.
Fabregas picked up a hamstring injury against Sevilla on Tuesday and could face a fitness test on Friday.
"I don't know how long it will be," Wenger told the club's website. "We hope it will be a very short time, maybe he'll even be okay for Saturday.
"But the medical staff are not optimistic about that. The worst case for him realistically is 10 days."
He added: "We have a slight chance to get Gael Clichy and Alexander Hleb back.
"Mathieu Flamini will be available. Of course Robin van Persie is still out."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal return to league business having had their club record, 28-match, undefeated sequence ended in Spain by Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa are on their longest winning run in over seven years. They are vying to complete five Premier League victories on the spin for the first time since April 1998.
The Gunners defend their three point lead at the top of the table and an unbeaten league steak that is one week short of eight months in duration.
The north Londoners have netted in every Premier League game this season, and boast the strongest attack in the highest league.
Arsenal hold a 50% win record against Villa in the Premier League (15 of 30).
CLUB FORM
ASTON VILLA
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 7th
1. Won the last four, beating Derby (h), Birmingham (a), Middlesbrough (a) and Blackburn (a) - all in the Premier League.
2. Unbeaten in five league games; won four and drawn one since losing 1-4, home to Manchester United on 20 October - their only reverse in nine.
3. Not registered five Premier League victories in succession since defeating Crystal Palace (h), Everton (a), West Ham (h), Coventry (a) and Southampton (a) between 14 March and 18 April 1998.
4. The current tally of 27 points after 14 fixtures is their best since 29 points were accrued to this corresponding stage in 1998-99 when they went on to finish sixth.
5. Failed to score in just two Premier League matches; only Arsenal have a more impressive record, having scored in every game.
6. Liverpool and Manchester United are the only clubs to have left Villa Park this season with maximum points.
7. Won three and drawn one of their last four Premier League matches against London clubs since the 0-1 home loss to Arsenal on 14 March; their only reverse in nine league clashes with London clubs.
8. Drawn more matches in Premier League history than any other club (178), but still to finish level in a home game this season.
9. Won five of the last six home Premier League games.
10. This is the first of back-to-back home fixtures on successive Saturdays. Portsmouth will be the next visitors before a visit to Sunderland and the pre-Christmas home clash with Manchester City.
ARSENAL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 1st
1. One of two remaining unbeaten clubs in the Premier League, with Liverpool. Won 13 and drawn seven of the last 20 Premier League matches, since losing 0-1, home to West Ham on 7 April.
2. Looking for an unrivalled 11th victory in this Premier League campaign.
3. Dropped fewer Premier League points than any other club; six (drawing at Blackburn and Liverpool and home to Manchester United).
4. Scored 29 goals in 13 Premier League games, at one every 40 minutes on average; 20 of those goals have come in the second half.
5. One of five clubs holding a 100% record when a Premier League clean sheet has been kept; won five of five.
6. Equal with Blackburn in gaining as many as eight Premier League points from losing positions, including victories over Fulham (h) and Tottenham (a).
7. The only club to have scored in every Premier League game this season, and netted in each of the last 13 since the goalless draw at Portsmouth in last season's closing league fixture on 13 May - their only blank in 19 league outings.
8. The current total of 33 points is their best to this stage since the title-winning season of 2003-04, when 33 points were gained after the first 13 and 34 after the first 14 matches - their best ever such return in this league.
9. Not beaten in eight away league games; won three and drawn five (won three and drawn two this season) since losing 4-1 at Liverpool on 31 March.
10. Two matches in the north-east follow this, against Newcastle next Wednesday and Middlesbrough four days later. There are also two pre-Christmas London derbies, home to Chelsea and Tottenham.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ASTON VILLA
Gabriel AGBONLAHOR is Aston Villa's leading scorer, with six Premier League goals.
Gareth BARRY and Olof MELLBERG have all been on the field for every minute of every one of Villa's league and cup games this season.
Suspended:-
Nigel REO-COKER (one match)
ARSENAL
Cesc FABREGAS is Arsenal's top scorer with 11 goals. He is the joint highest scoring Premier League player in all competitions, with Cristiano RONALDO of Manchester United.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is the clubs top Premier League marksmen with seven.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 17 and drawing two of the 19 matches in which he's netted.
Five of FABREGAS'S six league goals were scored in the second half.
Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Mathieu FLAMINI will be making his 50th Premier League start for Arsenal.
Justin HOYTE will be making his 50th club career league start (Arsenal and Sunderland).
HEAD TO HEAD
Villa have not beaten Arsenal in 17 Premier League matches since the 3-2 home victory on 13 December 1998, when a brace from Dion Dublin and a goal from Julian Joachim were enough for all three points. Since then the Midlanders have drawn five and lost 12 against the Gunners.
Arsenal had lost the Carling Cup final and been just been knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League when they met Villa in March, and gained all three points through a fortuitous goal from Vassiriki Diaby.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Villa 58 wins, Arsenal 63, Draws 35
Prem: Villa 5 wins, Arsenal 15, Draws 10
at Villa only
League (inc PL): Villa 38 wins, Arsenal 21, Draws 19
Prem: Villa 3 wins, Arsenal 6, Draws 6
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal
14 March 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Arsenal scorer: Diaby 10
Villa Park
Saturday, 1 December
Kick-off: 1715 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for the game against Aston Villa.
Fabregas picked up a hamstring injury against Sevilla on Tuesday and could face a fitness test on Friday.
"I don't know how long it will be," Wenger told the club's website. "We hope it will be a very short time, maybe he'll even be okay for Saturday.
"But the medical staff are not optimistic about that. The worst case for him realistically is 10 days."
He added: "We have a slight chance to get Gael Clichy and Alexander Hleb back.
"Mathieu Flamini will be available. Of course Robin van Persie is still out."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Arsenal return to league business having had their club record, 28-match, undefeated sequence ended in Spain by Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa are on their longest winning run in over seven years. They are vying to complete five Premier League victories on the spin for the first time since April 1998.
The Gunners defend their three point lead at the top of the table and an unbeaten league steak that is one week short of eight months in duration.
The north Londoners have netted in every Premier League game this season, and boast the strongest attack in the highest league.
Arsenal hold a 50% win record against Villa in the Premier League (15 of 30).
CLUB FORM
ASTON VILLA
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 7th
1. Won the last four, beating Derby (h), Birmingham (a), Middlesbrough (a) and Blackburn (a) - all in the Premier League.
2. Unbeaten in five league games; won four and drawn one since losing 1-4, home to Manchester United on 20 October - their only reverse in nine.
3. Not registered five Premier League victories in succession since defeating Crystal Palace (h), Everton (a), West Ham (h), Coventry (a) and Southampton (a) between 14 March and 18 April 1998.
4. The current tally of 27 points after 14 fixtures is their best since 29 points were accrued to this corresponding stage in 1998-99 when they went on to finish sixth.
5. Failed to score in just two Premier League matches; only Arsenal have a more impressive record, having scored in every game.
6. Liverpool and Manchester United are the only clubs to have left Villa Park this season with maximum points.
7. Won three and drawn one of their last four Premier League matches against London clubs since the 0-1 home loss to Arsenal on 14 March; their only reverse in nine league clashes with London clubs.
8. Drawn more matches in Premier League history than any other club (178), but still to finish level in a home game this season.
9. Won five of the last six home Premier League games.
10. This is the first of back-to-back home fixtures on successive Saturdays. Portsmouth will be the next visitors before a visit to Sunderland and the pre-Christmas home clash with Manchester City.
ARSENAL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 1st
1. One of two remaining unbeaten clubs in the Premier League, with Liverpool. Won 13 and drawn seven of the last 20 Premier League matches, since losing 0-1, home to West Ham on 7 April.
2. Looking for an unrivalled 11th victory in this Premier League campaign.
3. Dropped fewer Premier League points than any other club; six (drawing at Blackburn and Liverpool and home to Manchester United).
4. Scored 29 goals in 13 Premier League games, at one every 40 minutes on average; 20 of those goals have come in the second half.
5. One of five clubs holding a 100% record when a Premier League clean sheet has been kept; won five of five.
6. Equal with Blackburn in gaining as many as eight Premier League points from losing positions, including victories over Fulham (h) and Tottenham (a).
7. The only club to have scored in every Premier League game this season, and netted in each of the last 13 since the goalless draw at Portsmouth in last season's closing league fixture on 13 May - their only blank in 19 league outings.
8. The current total of 33 points is their best to this stage since the title-winning season of 2003-04, when 33 points were gained after the first 13 and 34 after the first 14 matches - their best ever such return in this league.
9. Not beaten in eight away league games; won three and drawn five (won three and drawn two this season) since losing 4-1 at Liverpool on 31 March.
10. Two matches in the north-east follow this, against Newcastle next Wednesday and Middlesbrough four days later. There are also two pre-Christmas London derbies, home to Chelsea and Tottenham.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
ASTON VILLA
Gabriel AGBONLAHOR is Aston Villa's leading scorer, with six Premier League goals.
Gareth BARRY and Olof MELLBERG have all been on the field for every minute of every one of Villa's league and cup games this season.
Suspended:-
Nigel REO-COKER (one match)
ARSENAL
Cesc FABREGAS is Arsenal's top scorer with 11 goals. He is the joint highest scoring Premier League player in all competitions, with Cristiano RONALDO of Manchester United.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR is the clubs top Premier League marksmen with seven.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 17 and drawing two of the 19 matches in which he's netted.
Five of FABREGAS'S six league goals were scored in the second half.
Only Kolo TOURE has been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Mathieu FLAMINI will be making his 50th Premier League start for Arsenal.
Justin HOYTE will be making his 50th club career league start (Arsenal and Sunderland).
HEAD TO HEAD
Villa have not beaten Arsenal in 17 Premier League matches since the 3-2 home victory on 13 December 1998, when a brace from Dion Dublin and a goal from Julian Joachim were enough for all three points. Since then the Midlanders have drawn five and lost 12 against the Gunners.
Arsenal had lost the Carling Cup final and been just been knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League when they met Villa in March, and gained all three points through a fortuitous goal from Vassiriki Diaby.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Villa 58 wins, Arsenal 63, Draws 35
Prem: Villa 5 wins, Arsenal 15, Draws 10
at Villa only
League (inc PL): Villa 38 wins, Arsenal 21, Draws 19
Prem: Villa 3 wins, Arsenal 6, Draws 6
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal
14 March 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Arsenal scorer: Diaby 10
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