Welcome to coverage of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Aston Villa from the Emirates Stadium.

Petrov takes Arteta out of the action with a late challenge. A booking for him.

Van Persie is going to swing this in. Decent delivery, but Vermaelen heads over the bar from 12 yards. Goalkick to the visiting team.

Rosicky's cross is blocked by Warnock, and Arsenal have another corner here.

Heskey guilty of bringing down Djourou before Walcott's cross is plucked out of the air by Given.

Villa skipper Stylian Petrov has made more interceptions than any other player in the top division (96).

First real chance of the day for Arsenal. One suspects there is going to be a few more before these 90 minutes are up. Villa not looking too clever there.

Given pulls off a fine stop to save from Walcott before Sagna knocks the rebound well wide of the goal.

Villa break up the park at some pace. Brilliant run by Albrighton who hammers a shot over the bar. Should maybe have hit the target with that chance.

Collins blocks the cross by Van Persie. Corner to the home side to be taken by Arteta. Cleared by Villa.

Bit of a blood injury by the look of things as Ireland is caught offside scampering forward.

So a couple of minutes hold-up in the action. Djourou finally gets to his feet before leaving the action for a change of shirt.

Djourou on the deck after taking a fall under pressure from Heskey. He is needing a bit of facial treatment.

We are off and running in this one. The pitch is like a bowling green.

A beautiful day all over the country today. Is it really March? The teams are ready to come out. Today's referee is Phil Dowd from Staffordshire.

Laurent Koscielny, who has made more last-man saving tackles than any other player in the Premier League this season, has been injured in the warm-up and will be replaced by Johan Djourou in the starting line-up.

Since defeat against Arsenal just before Christmas, Villa have lost just three of their 11 Premier League games (W3 D5 L3).

Villa have conceded a higher percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League (46%). The Gunners have scored the lowest percentage of goals from set plays (12%).

Arsenal have won six league games in a row for the first time since March 2010. They haven’t won seven on the bounce since October 2007.

The two sides have already met at the Emirates in the FA Cup this season, with the Gunners coming from two down at half-time to win 3-2. Arsenal have won three penalties in the two games against Villa this season, all converted by Robin van Persie.

Villa winger Charles N'Zogbia misses out because of a knee problem. Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor lead the visitors' attack, with Andreas Weimann - who scored a stoppage-time winner against Fulham last time out - on the bench.

Gervinho has been named in Arsenal's first XI. The Ivorian striker starts his first league match since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, with Aaron Ramsey dropping to the bench.