Emery is making his vision for the future quite clear
THE draw at West Ham was a fair reflection with head coach Unai Emery now targeting a big three points against Bournemouth this week to leave Villa well within reach of a top-ten finish.
Ollie Watkins became the first man since Dwight Yorke in 1998 to score in four consecutive away fixtures with a well-taken header.
Villa were then naive to concede within ten minutes as Said Benrahma levelled from the penalty spot after Leon Bailey’s foul on Lucas Paqueta. Emery labelled the decision “soft”.
Here are the talking points from Sunday’s stalemate at the London Stadium.
Emery sees bigger picture
You could tell it felt like two points dropped rather than a point gained as the boss lamented what might have been.
It was Villa’s first draw away from home since the spoils were shared at Nottingham Forest under Steven Gerrard in October and, on reflection, this fixture was one Villa would have quite easily lost prior to Emery’s appointment.
They enjoyed 60% of the ball and outpassed the hosts 545 to 350. Villa had their chances as well with Watkins spurning a golden one before the break after some patient buildup play while, right at the death, Jhon Duran should have won it but snatched at a loose ball from Douglas Luiz’s corner.
Emery spoke of his “excitement” afterwards at wanting to make further improvements on the training pitches this week and to put Bournemouth to the sword at Villa Park on Saturday.
He likes setting targets and has spoken openly of them. First, was to steer Villa away from the relegation places, which he has done. The remit now is the top ten. It is a seven-game month in April following the twoweek international break and Villa have sides above them in the table – Chelsea, Newcastle, Brentford and Fulham – to play.
Villa did well in London and they were without influential midfielder and tempo-setter Boubacar Kamara. It was a decent point.
Ollie must make England squad
The 27-year-old striker’s scoring form continues. Only Marcus Rashford (ten), Erling Haaland (ten) and Harry Kane (eight) have scored more goals than Watkins’ seven since the Premier League season resumed in December.
Speaking pre-match, he revealed he has been seeking guidance from a life coach. “Right now, I feel really comfortable and very clear when I’m going on the pitch,” he said. “Win, lose or draw, we keep to the same routine.”
It is certainly doing the trick given his six goals in the last seven games. Gareth Southgate will name his England squad on Thursday with Watkins surely a shoo-in to be included.
Moreno thrills going forward
Supporters witnessed the good and the bad from Alex Moreno with the Spaniard enjoying more success going forward than defensively.
His cross for Watkins’ opener was sublime but, on numerous occasions, Jarrod Bowen breezed past him with far too much ease. Nobody completed more dribbles than Bowen (seven) and, with an hour gone, Emery then entrusted Lucas
Digne to nullify that threat.
Moreno is still getting to grips with the demands of the Premier League and there were plenty of positives. He rampaged down the left time and time again to give Villa’s midfielders an out-ball and looked dangerous whenever he had it, often picking his head up to make the right pass inside.
Bailey struggling for form
Leon Bailey is still without an away goal in the Premier League across two campaigns since his £30 million transfer. There was one moment in the second half where Emi Buendia battled hard to win possession back, passed it to Bailey and he wasted a good chance to attack with a hopeless scooped pass, which went straight to Alphonse Areola in goal. Nothing is coming off for him and it has been the case across the last few weeks.
Emery has been pleased with the Jamaican’s defensive work and said: “We’re speaking to him, trying to improve and to use his characteristic getting wide, one-on-one, and sometimes playing more between a No.7 and No.9.
“He can have better moments and
I told him before the match that, sometimes, to play a brilliant match is not only offensively but sometimes defensively. We won four from five before (West Ham), which is very good. Defensively, the players are very committed, which is good.”
Bertrand Traore and Duran both had more of an impact than Bailey managed in his 65-minute showing, with the latter surely pushing for a start across the next few games.
Not for the first time, Duran was lively and a real handful for defenders, while Traore was commended by Emery for his bright cameo.