The Whites eased to a 3-0 win over Southampton last time out, while an out-of-sorts Villa succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City.
Browsing: Aston Villa
While Villa begin the weekend in eighth position in the Premier League table, the visitors make the short trip to the West Midlands in third spot after beating Liverpool last weekend.
The visitors are currently ninth in the division, four points behind sixth-placed West Ham United with two games in hand over the Hammers, while Brighton’s recent form has allowed them to move away from danger and into 15th position, now 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
The hosts were put to the sword by West Ham United on their own turf last time out, whereas Arsenal lost in the league for the first time in 2021 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The sides are locked on the same number of points heading into this evening’s clash, though Villa have played a game fewer than Southampton.
Sanson, 26, agreed a four-and-a-half year deal with the Premier League club, subject to international clearance.
While most of the rest of the top flight focus on FA Cup matters, two sides in growing need of a victory will look to overturn their recent fortunes with three valuable Premier League points at Villa Park.
The news comes after Villa were forced to field a team consisting of U23 and U18 players against Liverpool in the FA Cup, following a coronavirus outbreak hitting the first-team set-up at Bodymoor Heath.
This was after the home side were forced to field academy players due to a mass COVID-19 outbreak among their ranks
No first-team players will take part in the third-round game at Villa Park and boss Dean Smith will not manage the side on Friday, the PA news agency understands
The victory put them level on points and games played with champions and leaders Liverpool
Cavani pleaded guilty to the charge from the FA of using insulting and/or improper words.
The hosts led through Bertrand Traore’s early opener and should have been further ahead when Tyrone Mings was shown two yellow cards in quick succession just before half-time.
The Eagles were thumped by the reigning champions at Selhurst Park last time out, but Villa, who currently sit ninth in the table, recorded an impressive 3-0 win away to Sam Allardyce’s West Bromwich Albion.
While the home side sit three points adrift of safety, Villa head into the West Midlands derby in 11th position after a goalless draw against Burnley earlier this week.
The 25-year-old England international was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, after previously pleading guilty to two charges, including one linked to the incident in which his 4×4 hit two parked vehicles in Dickens Heath, Solihull, West Midlands.
The substitute struck from the spot in injury time after Nelson Semedo brought down John McGinn.
Newcastle asked the Premier League to cancel the game on public health grounds with the squad hit by more than five positive tests, and uncertain how many more could develop.
Villa beat Arsenal 3-0 last time out to move within three points of top spot with a game in hand to play, while Brighton have one win from eight and are in relegation danger.
Bukayo Saka’s own goal opened the scoring for the visitors, who could have run up an even more flattering score as John McGinn saw a goal harshly ruled out by VAR and Jack Grealish was denied by a goal-line clearance from Dani Ceballos.