IS BUENDIA THE MAN TO DELIVER VILLA EUROPEAN FOOTBALL?

And the Emi goes to... Aston Villa. For the second successive summer, Villa’s scouting team have prised an Emiliano from Arsenal’s clutches, much to the delight of the claret and blue faithful.

Snapping up Emiliano Martinez last September and then using the Argentine goalkeeper to help convince compatriot Buendia to choose Villa over the Gunners has sparked some social media argy- bargy between the fanbases. A faux rivalry, which at this time of year only extends to Aston’s finest breathing down Arsenal’s necks atop of The Alphabet Table, now has some added South American spice.

The statement signing of Norwich star Buendia, however, is exactly the type of transfer Villa needed to execute the next phase of their masterplan. They want to reel in Mikel Arteta’s transitional team, and clubs around them, to push into the European places.

Last season, Villa did the double over Arsenal for the first time since before Buendia was born – the 1992- 93 campaign, stats fans. Without the annual injury absence of Jack Grealish, Dean Smith’s bright young side might have further closed the six- point gap between themselves in 11th and Arsenal in 8th.

Filling that Grealish- shaped void for when Captain Jack is unavailable, and giving the Brummie talisman the kind of creative foil Ross Barkley oh- so fleetingly flirted with becoming last campaign, is the reason technical director Johan Lange and Villa’s team of talent spotters worked so hard to get Buendia on a five- year contract.

With 15 goals and 16 assists, Buendia was named Championship Player of the Season as the Canaries stormed the division to secure a quickfire return to the Premier League. It took a club- record transfer fee that could rise to £ 38 million to land the 24- year- old playmaker, whose highlights reel showcases how this versatile, diminutive gem can strut his stuff either in wide areas or as a No. 10.

Replacing Grealish is not a scenario the claret and blue brigade want to contemplate – with the skipper heavily linked with a move to champions Manchester City – but supplementing him with Buendia to load Ollie Watkins’ bullets has got the club daring to dream of Europe for the first time in more than a decade.

Much to Arsenal’s annoyance, there’s no ‘ Emi’ at the Emirates Stadium, but Aston Villa fans are ready to be thrilled by the best thing to come out of Norfolk since the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre.