Pires to start against former club

Robert Pires has been handed his first Aston Villa start by manager Gerard Houllier against his former club Arsenal at Villa Park today.

The 37-year-old scored 84 goals in 284 appearances during a six-year spell with the Gunners.

Houllier has made three changes from the side beaten 2-0 at Blackburn last weekend.

Pires, James Collins and John Carew replace Stephen Ireland, Jonathan Hogg and the ill Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Tomas Rosicky takes over as Arsenal skipper in place of hamstring victim Cesc Fabregas while Emmanuel Eboue has also been sidelined with a knee problem.

Villa are searching for their first home league win over Arsenal since 1998.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ashley Young, Clark, Bannan, Downing, Pires, Carew.

Subs: Guzan, Ireland, Delfouneso, Beye, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin.

Subs: Szczesny, van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Djourou, Gibbs, Bendtner.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.