---
title: "Aston Villa: Ashley Preece backs Morgan Sanson for Arsenal start"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ashley-preece-backs-morgan-sanson-for-arsenal-start/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-10-19T12:15:48Z"
modified: "2021-10-19T12:15:48Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ashley Preece backs Morgan Sanson for Arsenal start

**Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson ‘will be knocking on the door for a start’ in Friday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal, [Ashley Preece says](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-arsenal-transfers-wolves-21888095#comments-wrapper).**

### The lowdown

Having had an [injury-disrupted](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsenal-bailey-injury-aston-villa-18896713) start to the season, Sanson, a [£16million](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/26/aston-villa-complete-16m-signing-of-marseilles-morgan-sanson) winter signing from Marseille, has [yet to play a Premier League minute in 2021/22](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/leistungsdaten/spieler/174094).

His only first-team action has come in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.

Upon his arrival in the Midlands, Smith [described him](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2021/01/30/dean-smith-believes-morgan-sanson-will-bring-a-big-game-mentality-to-aston-villa/) as ‘a great technician’ who ‘has a bit of everything in his game’.

Sanson pockets £48,000 per week at Villa Park, ranking him in the club’s top 10 earners (via [Spotrac](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/aston-villa-fc/payroll/)).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The latest

Addressing supporters in a Q&A for Birmingham Live, Preece said Sanson would be pushing for a place in the starting XI against the Gunners.

He wrote: “Sanson will be knocking on the door for a start now. Could we see it on Friday?”

Preece added that Smith has a ‘decent’ squad at his disposal but needs to find the ‘right formula’ to bring the best out of his players.

### The verdict

Who could make way for Sanson if he does get a start? John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Emiliano Buendia all started against Wolves.

[From a statistical point of view, McGinn was his team’s best performer](https://www.sofascore.com/aston-villa-wolverhampton/dsP), while Buendia had his ‘first really good game’ in a Villa shirt [according to Football Insider pundit Noel Whelan](https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-have-signed-best-in-league-player-whos-grealish-2-0-whelan/).

Luiz would appear the most vulnerable, then, but any of the trio could feasibly make way given how the midfield interchanges under Smith.

**In other news, [fans praised this man’s performance against Wolves](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/aston-villa/aston-villa-fans-praise-john-mcginn-wolves/).**