Arsenal has already been handed a boost ahead of Aston Villa game

Arsenal has reportedly gained an unexpected advantage ahead of their upcoming match against Aston Villa, with a key player for the home team set to miss the game. Unai Emery's European champions suffered a significant defeat in their inaugural Premier League match, falling 4-0 to Brighton, as four goals arrived before the 32nd minute.

Aston Villa, aiming for a top four finish after their Europa League triumph last season, experienced a challenging start, compounded by the red card shown to Joao Gomes during his debut. According to Standard Sport, Gomes will be absent from the Arsenal fixture due to a three-match ban. The Brazilian, who joined Villa from Wolves this summer and impressed during pre-season, has previously performed well against Arsenal while representing Wolves.

Consequently, his absence could provide Arsenal with a substantial advantage, especially considering his strong track record against the Gunners. Additionally, Gomes' suspension will force Emery to rely on other players, further complicating Villa's task of recovering from their heavy opening loss and performing better in their next match.