Team News
Aston Villa striker Darren Bent is back in contention for the Premier League clash with Arsenal after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury.
The England international has returned to training this week after missing the games with Sunderland and the two Manchester clubs.
Left-back Eric Lichaj is also available after a leg muscle strain but Joe Bennett, Chris Herd, Charles N'Zogbia (all knee) and Richard Dunne (groin) are still out.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will again be without forward Theo Walcott.
Defender Andre Santos is also out, but forward Gervinho and defender Kieran Gibbs are again in contention having been in the squad for the midweek Champions League win over Montpellier.
Midfielders Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky continue their rehabilitation from injuries.
Match Notes
The visit of Arsenal represents the final fixture in an unforgiving sequence for Paul Lambert and, once again, the history books do not make palatable reading.
Aston Villa have not beaten the Gunners in the league on their own turf since 1998 and back-to-back defeats against the Manchester clubs have conspired to leave Lambert in the bottom three.
Boosted by guiding Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League for the 13th consecutive year, Arsène Wenger needs to recover after two successive away defeats.
Lambert needs at least a point or the visit of Reading on Tuesday night will already take on mammoth importance.
Betting: Home 4-1, Away 4-6, Draw 5-2.
Stat of the game: Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is the only player in the Premier League to have started every game and be substituted in each one.
John Percy's prediction: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 1.
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