Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: Aston Villa deserve to be called title contenders

Villa ended Arsenal's 11-match unbeaten run in the league with a stoppage time 2-1 victory over Arteta's men on December 6.

The two sides will lock horns for the second time inside a month, with Villa bidding to join Arsenal and City in making it a three-way fight for the title.

Unai Emery's side, fresh from securing a club record-equalling 11th straight win in all competitions, will head into Tuesday's contest knowing they could draw level on points with Arsenal.

Asked if Villa were now genuine championship contenders, Arteta replied: "They are meant to be there when you look at what they are doing and how consistent they have been and what Unai has done with the club.

"They fully deserve that credit because they are doing it on the pitch where you have to show your level.

"But every opponent that comes here, we want them to suffer, and be as dominant as we were against Brighton for the majority of the game.

"We know we will have a tough match. We will watch the last game back (against Villa) and I have a few ideas on things that we have to do better.

"It was quite cruel on us, the way we lost it, but we have learned from it and we can use that as motivation and hunger in the right manner."

Meanwhile, Arteta could be without as many as four defenders.

Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera were all unavailable for Arsenal's nervy win over Brighton on Saturday which kept them two points clear of title rivals Manchester City at the top of the table.