“They are not here – Konsa, Watkins and Martinez because they finished their season on 19th July and I gave them four weeks to rest, it’s completely necessary,” the manager said via the team’s official website.

In his comments, Emery also mentioned his goalkeeper, as Emiliano Martinez will also miss this match for the same reason. The manager lamented their absences: “Of course, if they were here, maybe we could have more chances.”

Aston Villa’s predicted XI

With new faces such as recently signed Alejandro Garnacho, alongside several of the heroes from that historic final against Freiburg, these are the 11 players Unai Emery would field to face PSG.

Marco Bizot; Ian Maatsen, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelöf, Matty Cash; João Gomes, Boubacar Kamara; Alejandro Garnacho, Emiliano Buendía, John McGinn; Tammy Abraham.

The absence of Watkins and Konsa

The absence of both Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa severely undermines Aston Villa’s backbone ahead of the Super Cup clash. Missing Watkins deprives Unai Emery’s side of its main focal point in attack, as the striker tallied 19 goals and 5 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions during the 2025–26 season.

Meanwhile, Konsa’s absence leaves a massive void in Villa’s central defense, where the English defender logged over 3,000 minutes as the defensive anchor throughout the campaign. Without their top goalscorer and defensive leader, Villa will face an uphill battle to contain PSG’s dynamic attack while generating enough counter-attacking threat to claim the trophy.

Seeking their second UEFA Super Cup title

Aston Villa enter the 2026 UEFA Super Cup seeking to add a second Super Cup to their continental cabinet, building upon a proud European heritage that began with their famous 1981–82 European Cup triumph and their subsequent 1982 UEFA Super Cup victory over Barcelona.

Following decades of European campaigns—which also included a UEFA Intertoto Cup title in 2001—the Villans reached new heights by claiming the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League. Now boasting four major UEFA honours, Unai Emery’s side aims to further cement its historic international legacy by lifting the trophy once again.

In his second full season at the helm of the Arsenal, Mikel Arteta knows it’s time to take the team to the next level and in order to do that, he’s trying to create a culture based on discipline and hard work. And no player, no matter the name, will be allowed to disobey the rules.

It looks like Aubameyang’s late return from a holiday didn’t sit well with the boss, as the Gabonese has been kept on the sidelines since the Gunners’ defeat to Everton on Dic. 6. And according to reports, he may not return anytime soon as Arteta is apparently eyeinga number of strikers to replace him.

Report: Mikel Arteta eyes four strikers to replace Aubameyang at Arsenal

According to James Olley ofESPN, Arteta has a shortlist of strikers in mind while Aubameyang continues separated from the squad. Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Dusan Vlahovic are reportedly among his options.

But, even thoughArsenal have spent big money last summer, the Gunners boss apparently acknowledges many of these could turn out to be very expensive targets, especially for Isak and Vlahovic.

The report claims Arteta is a huge admirer of Watkins but no contact has been made so far, as the Aston Villa forwardwould be on his radar for next summer. However, with Aubameyang’s future hanging by a thread, the North London club would listen to offers in the winter transfer window.