Fabregas on the bench for Villa clash

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas returned the bench following a hamstring injury for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium.

Full-back Armand Traore recovered from a similar problem to start, with Bacary Sagna also back in the starting XI.

Villa have already beaten Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool as they look to gatecrash the top four, and won here last season.

England forward Emile Heskey recovered from a groin problem to lead the attack.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby, Eduardo, Arshavin.

Subs: Fabianski, Fabregas, Vela, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Ashley Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey.

Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Carew, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye, Collins. Referee:

Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)