Premiership: Aston Villa travel to Highbury

Manager Arsene Wenger recalled Dennis Bergkamp in place of Kanu in attack as Arsenal, after a trio of impressive wins over Manchester United, Ipswich and Juventus set out to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premiership against injury-hit, out-of-form Aston Villa at Highbury.

The midlanders, deprived of their first victory in six games by an injury-time West Ham equaliser on Wednesday night, were still without Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Wales full-back Mark Delaney, Turkish centre-back Alpay and Morocco midfielders Mustapha Hadji and Hassan Kachloul.

Dion Dublin was again preferred up front to Darius Vassell and Colombian Juan Pablo Angel - who were both on the bench - in a side captained by former Highbury favourite Paul Merson.