12 players expected to miss Arsenal vs Aston Villa title clash after double Gunners blow

The festive fixture list is putting teams through their paces, especially in the Premier League title race, with three sides firmly in the heat of battle at the very top. Among them are Arsenal and Aston Villa, who make up the top three after an impressive first half of the campaign.

The Gunners have gone close to winning a first league title in 20 years, but haven't managed to get themselves over the line under Mikel Arteta so far. Their rivals, Villa, have been a thorn in the side of the manager in recent seasons, with Unai Emery picking up four wins in eight meetings against him.

The latest came earlier this month, where a dramatic late win saw Villa close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the table. The reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium will create a challenge for both teams in the race for the title, with both managers facing some selection issues.

A mixture of injury troubles and suspension concerns are impacting both Arsenal and Villa going into the match. So, with that said, here's a look at who could miss out on the big game...