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This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Arsenal face Aston Villa on Sunday in their sixth Premier League game of the season as they look to recover from three games without a win. One battle in particular against the Villans will need to be won if they wish to pick up a positive result.

On the chalkboard

The Gunners have made a mixed start to this campaign, winning just two of their first five games but losing only once.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have seen little return on the £133.7m they spent during the past transfer window. They have been defeated in three of their first five games back in the top flight, with just one victory coming their way so far.

With the pressure beginning to rise on Dean Smith, the Midlands side will be desperate for a good result. While there will be key duels all over the pitch, one battle, in particular, could decide the game.

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Midfield battle

Last season, there were just two Villa players who registered a higher average WhoScored rating than John McGinn's 7.28, and one of them is no longer with the club. This term, he leads the way among his team-mates with an average of 7.41. His importance to the side cannot be understated.

In the middle of the park, he will be facing Matteo Guendouzi, whose early form this season recently earned him a call-up to the France U21 squad.

It is likely to be a bruising contest, with the two not accustomed to shirking a tackle. The 17-time Scotland international has averaged a huge four per game this term and, although Guendouzi has made two less per match, it is not a number to be sniffed at.

The Arsenal man needs to be wary of McGinn's attacking influence, too.

He has scored one goal and made another so far this term, meaning he has contributed directly to 50% of his team's four strikes. His 1.4 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per game indicate that he will be looking to make his presence known going forward.

Guendouzi has been beaten by those running at him two times per game this campaign, which is amongst the highest 20 in the league. McGinn will need to make sure that is a problem once again at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.

But if the former Hibernian man can be kept under wraps, it will dramatically increase the possibility of Emery and co getting the result they need. Guendouzi seems like the man for the job, but it will no doubt be a tricky one.