The teenager, who has played three times for Colombia, is set to be Villa’s second January signing after the arrival of Real Betis defender Alex Moreno.
Aston Villa recorded a famous win over Manchester United on Sunday evening, winning their first game under new coach Unai Emery.
Goals from Leon Bailey, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey were enough for the Villans to see off an in-form Red Devils side.
Aston Villa made a perfect start to life under Unai Emery inside the opening 10 minutes of the new manager’s first game in charge, taking a two goal lead against Man Utd.
The opener came from Leon Bailey, who drove the ball low and hard across goal and into the bottom right corner of the net, having been played through on goal by Jacob Ramsey.
The second goal would be scored by Lucas Digne in spectacular fashion. The French full-back curled a free kick from just outside the penalty into the top corner of the net.
Man Utd finally start to show some signs of life on the half hour mark, focring Emi Martinez into two good saves in quick succession. The first Red Devils player to be denied by the Argentine international was the young Garnacho who, after drifting past Matty Cash in the box, saw a decent effort on goal palmed clear by the goalkeeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo was denied moments later, with Martinez getting his foot on the forward’s header.
The visitors did eventually find a route back into the game through a deflected Luke Shaw volley. The left-back latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired the ball in on goal – an effort which flick off the back of Jacob Ramsey and into the back of the net.
Villa hit the ground running once again at the start of the second half, grabbing a crucial third goal in the 48th minute through Ramsey. The young midfielder coolly side-footed an Ollie Watkins cut-back cross into the top right corner of the goal.
After that, United didn’t really threaten to get back into the game as Emery’s team, rather comfortably, shut up shop for the remainder of the half.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) GK – Emiliano Martinez – 7/10 – Made two very good saves in the first half and commanded his area well throughout.
RB – Matty Cash – 6/10 – Worked hard on the right flank.
CB – Ezri Konza – 6/10 – A solid performances from the 25-year-old.
LB – Lucas Digne – 7/10 – Scored a wonderful free-kick.
CM – Leander Dendoncker – 7/10 – Very solid in the middle of the park for Villa.
CM – Douglas Luiz – 7/10 – Impressed in transition, seemingly always playing the right pass.
RM – Jacob Ramsey – 9/10 – Really great performance. Unfortunate to score an own goal but quickly made amends with a lovely finish at the other end after half-time.
AM – Emi Buendia – 7/10 – Moved the ball around brilliantly, particularly in the first half.
LM – Leon Bailey – 8/10 – Opened the scoring with a clinical finish and cause Man Utd a host of problems with his pace.
ST – Ollie Watkins – 7/10 – Stretched Man Utd’s backline at will. Bagged an assist.
SUB – John McGinn – 6/10.
SUB – Ashley Young – 6/10.
SUB – Boubacar Kamara – 6/10.
SUB – Danny Ings – N/A.
SUB – Morgan Sanson – N/A.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1) GK – David de Gea – 5/10 – Conceded three but could do nothing about any of the goals.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s team successfully added to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, and their triumph meant European teams have won the past 10 editions of the tournament.
Aston Villa have underlined their commitment to new boss Unai Emery by handing him the longest managerial contract in the club’s history.
Emery was confirmed as the Villans new boss last week, although he is yet to officially start the job yet as he awaits his work visa.
Aston Villa pushed the boat out to get the former Arsenal boss, paying £5.2m in compensation to release him from his deal at Villarreal and a bumper pay deal.
It has also now emerged that the deal commits the Spaniard to Villa for at least four-and-a-half years. That eclipses the three-and-a-half years offered to previous boss Steven Gerrard and the four-year deal signed by Remi Garde in 2015.
Villa’s commitment to Emery is further highlighted by his plans to bring in up to eight new members of backroom staff in a major clear out that will see caretaker boss Aaron Danks potentially moved into a new role.
The club currently sit just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League following the 4-0 thrashing at Newcastle, although owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are determined to get the club back into European competition.
Emery has huge pedigree there, with him winning the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal
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Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been appointed as the new manager of Premier League side Aston Villa following the dismissal of Steven Gerrard on Thursday.
“Aston Villa is delighted to announce the appointment of Unai Emery as the club’s new Head Coach,” the club said in a statement on Monday night.
Emery’s appointment comes after he resigned from his job with Villarreal following mutual agreement between the Spanish club and Aston Villa.
This is the Spaniard’s second spell in England following a short unsuccessful stint with Arsenal, where he led the Gunners to the final of the UEFA Europa League but lost to Chelsea in the final.
Emery has managed top clubs across Europe including Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, Valencia, Spartak Moscow and Almeria.
He also boasts of remarkable achievements in his managerial career so far – he won four UEFA Europa League titles with Villarreal and Sevilla combined, the Ligue 1, Coupe de France amongst others.
The 50-year-old manager is now tasked with the difficult task of overturning Aston Villa’s poor run this season – The Villans have lost six of their 12 league matches, with only three wins and three draws.
He will resume duty on November 1 after his work permit formalities are completed.
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10-man Villa were humiliated 3-0 at Craven Cottage, leaving them 17th in the table and placing Gerrard under more danger than at any time in his 11-month tenure.
Their next game is at home to Brentford on Sunday.
Villa fans openly vented their anger at the Liverpool legend last night and another poor display against Brentford, should Gerrard remain in charge, would trigger a mutiny at Villa Park.
Sportsmail understands the Midlands club, owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, have already started to assess possible replacements and are prepared to pay one of the highest salaries in the Premier League to land an elite coach.
The pair are known to admire Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham boss, and have targeted the Argentine in the event of a change.
Pochettino has been out of work since leaving Paris St Germain in July and is recognised as one of Europe’s top coaches.
But the South American would likely need persuading of Villa’s long-term ambitions before considering a move to the Midlands given his desire to compete for top trophies.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has conceded that beating Manchester City to the Premier League on the final day of the season ‘unlikely’ following victory over Southampton on Tuesday.
Having closed the gap on leaders City to just one point with the comeback win at St Mary’s, the Reds ensured the title race remains alive for the last round of fixtures.
But to leapfrog City, Klopp’s side must beat Wolves and hope that Pep Guardiola’s team fail to take maximum points at home against Aston Villa.
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“Of course, [winning the Premier League title] is unlikely because City play at home against Aston Villa, who play only on Thursday [against Burnley],” Klopp told BBC Sport.
“But it is football. I think the time when City became champion [in 2019] it was because of 11 millimetres. If someone wants us to be champion then we have to win first and Aston Villa need to get a point at City. It is possible, not likely but possible. That is enough.”
It also means that Liverpool’s chances of an unprecedented quadruple are now slim. The Reds have already lifted the League Cup and the FA Cup, as well having the Champions League final against Real Madrid still to play in a rematch of the 2018 showdown.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle at St Mary’s, captain Jordan Henderson reflected, “The aim was to take [the title race] to the end. We knew it would be difficult. A lot of changes. The lads were brilliant. They kept going right to the end and got the reward.
“We’ve done that really well all season, the lads who haven’t played as much as they’d like took their opportunity. You need everyone in a Premier League season. We’re so used to it. We’re constantly in ‘cup finals’ every game. It’s normal. You get on with it.
“We can all celebrate or relax at the end of the season after the Champions League final.”
Norwich were relegated from the Premier League on Saturday after a 2-0 loss at Aston Villa.
Burnley’s dramatic late comeback from 1-0 down to beat Watford 2-1 left the Canaries 13 points adrift of safety with just four games remaining.
It was an unhappy return to Villa Park for Norwich boss Dean Smith as goals either side of half-time from two players he signed for Villa, Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, earned Steven Gerrard’s men the three points.
Smith has been unable to turn around a sinking ship since replacing Daniel Farke in November.
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“I’m disappointed for a lot of people — the owners, the supporters and everyone to do with the football club,” Smith told reporters.
“I take part of the responsibility because I’ve come in here to try to keep us up and unfortunately we haven’t done enough, but that isn’t down to the performance today (Saturday).
Norwich City’s Norwegian midfielder Mathias Normann reacts after missing a chance during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Norwich City at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 30, 2022. Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
“Unfortunately, in a lot of the bigger games this season, we’ve not quite reached the levels that we need to,” he added.
The Canaries have gone down in each of their last three campaigns in the English top-flight, having also been relegated in 2015/16 and 2018/19.
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“Ultimately, we haven’t been good enough and the quality of our squad to stay in the Premier League hasn’t been good enough, so we’ll learn from it,” said Smith.
“We have to come back stronger for the last four games and then next season.”
Norwich captain Grant Hanley told the BBC: “I’m disappointed with our result. It is probably fair, we haven’t been good enough this season.
“It is difficult for me to comment on anything right now. Emotions are high, we gave our all but it wasn’t enough and (it was) the story of our season.”
Watford’s 11th consecutive home loss also leaves the Hornets on the verge of relegation.
Everton’s 68-year stay in the top flight is now in severe peril as the Toffees are five points off safety, but do have games in hand over Burnley and Leeds to come.
Aston Villa have opened talks with Barcelona about securing a permanent deal for on-loan midfield star Philippe Coutinho, Noble Reporters Media understands.
Coutinho, 29, joined Villa in January in a loan deal which includes an option to buy him for £34m at the end of the season.
The Brazilian international has been brilliant for Villa so far with four goals and three assists to his name, and he has made no secret of the fact he is loving life under Steven Gerrard.
Coutinho’s form has seen rival Premier League clubs show an interest in his situation, but sources have confirmed to 90min that Villa have already started negotiations and are optimistic about getting a deal done.
There is no issue with a fee for Villa, but personal terms need to be finalised. Coutinho has another year left on his current deal with Barça which is worth just shy of £500,000-a-week once bonuses are factored in.
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Villa are now talking to Barça about a deal, knowing the La Liga side are desperate to get him off the wage bill – but Coutinho also knows he will have to take a pay cut to move. Those in charge at Villa Park are well aware that an agreement could be tricky but they believe that the promise of a long-term contract for Coutinho should help appease the 29-year-old.
Coutinho himself is delighted with how things have been going since his return to England.
“I have a beautiful story at Liverpool, I was happy there, now I’m starting to write a story at Aston Villa,” he told Globo Esporte.
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“I’m happy that once again I’m able to play well in England, as I’ve played in Italy, Spain and Germany.”
90min has been told that Villa are looking to secure a deal for Coutinho before the end of the season in order for them to plan ahead for the shortened summer. The 2022/23 Premier League season will begin in the first week of August to make time for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
Aside from Coutinho, Gerrard and Villa have major plans to bolster their squad this summer, with a new striker believed to be high on their list of targets, along with a defensive midfielder.
Arsenal took another big step towards ending a five-year exile from the Champions League as Bukayo Saka’s strike beat Aston Villa 1-0 to open up a four-point lead in fourth in the Premier League.
The Gunners could even increase that gap with a game in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United and were well worthy of the three points against a toothless Villa despite the narrow scoreline.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had complained about the tight turnaround his side faced after Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool.
That defeat ended a five-game winning run and there was no sign of tiredness from the visitors in the early stages.
Emile Smith Rowe returned to the starting line-up as one of two changes as Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale missed out through illness and injury respectively.
Smith Rowe had the first chance inside the three minutes when he fired over from Martin Odegaard’s pass.
Odegaard and Thomas Partey were dominating the midfield and a nice move between the two deserved a better finish from the Ghanian as he fired straight at Emiliano Martinez.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper then denied his former club the opening goal with a stunning save low to his left to prevent Ezri Konsa turning into his own net from Saka’s dangerous cross.
Saka was a constant threat and fittingly got the only goal on 30 minutes when Villa failed to clear a free-kick and he fired low past Martinez from the edge of the area.
Arsenal players surrounded referee Andy Madley moments later begging for a red card after Tyrone Mings caught Saka, but the England international got away with just a booking.
Villa improved after the break but lacked the creativity to break Arsenal down as Philippe Coutinho failed to hit the heights of his best form since joining on loan from Barcelona.
John McGinn curled a shot just wide and Ollie Watkins’ deflected effort came back off the outside of the post with Villa’s best chances to snatch an equaliser.
Ramsdale’s absence meant Bernd Leno was making his first Premier League appearance since August.
The German was not forced into a save until the final kick of the game when he parried Coutinho’s free-kick to safety and was mobbed by his teammates at full-time as Arsenal celebrated a big three points in their quest to get back to European football’s elite competition.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder has rediscovered his best form since arriving in September and as a ‘number 10’ has developed a fine on-field relationship with the home-grown star.
Exclusive – Aston Villa are ready to sanction ambitious spending that would see talisman Jack Grealish sign a new contract to become one of the highest paid English players in the Premier League, while also attempting to secure Ross Barkley on a permanent deal from Chelsea.
The form of Grealish and Barkley this season is a main reason why Villa are in contention for a European place, compared to last season when the club only avoided relegation on the final day.
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Grealish still starred in that struggling Villa side in 2019/20 and commanded interest from Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea, with further links with Liverpool and Manchester City.
The 25-year-old only signed a new deal worth £120,000 per week last summer, but he remains on the radar of all the clubs that have previously been monitoring him, even though his value has soared in recent months and he would cost a vast transfer fee.
Aston Villa want to secure the future of Jack Grealish & Ross Barkley | Marc Atkins/Getty Images
What’s more, Villa are keen to show their own desire to progress as a club and sources have told NoRM‘s known Media that owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want to make Grealish unsellable by offering him a new deal worth over £200,000 per week – one that would commit his long-term future to his boyhood side.
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Villa hope their plan to land Barkley on a permanent deal will also show Grealish the club’s ambition.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder has rediscovered his best form since arriving in September and as a ‘number 10’ has developed a fine on-field relationship with the home-grown star.
NoRM previously reported in November that Barkley’s form with Villa was impressing then Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who had made the 27-year-old aware that there would be a future for him back at Stamford Bridge should he continue to play well.
Lampard is obviously no longer in charge at Chelsea following his dismissal at the end of January and it is not yet known if new boss Thomas Tuchel sees a future at the club for Barkley.
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If Villa want to seal a permanent transfer for Barkley, NoRM understands that Chelsea will ask for a fee in the region of £40m.
That would mean Villa smashing their existing transfer record, which stands at the £28m plus add-ons deal to sign Ollie Watkins last summer.
Both can drive forward from midfield with real purpose and are quiet often central to an attacking move.
Alan Hudson claimed that Frank Lampard would not have faced the sack had he signed Jack Grealish for Chelsea from Aston Villa.
The Chelsea icon told Caught Offside that Lampard could’ve kept his seat in the dugout had he made a move for Villa’s talisman.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
“I know Frank, used to know him well until becoming manager, and had I been his adviser I would have told him to buy Jack Grealish,” Hudson said.
“And I mention this because Jack has just learned the ins out outs of top-level football, and he’s 25-year-of-age – that’s how long it takes today, not eighteen months.
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“Had Frank had signed Jack he’d still be the Chelsea manager.”
Lampard lost his job after Chelsea underwent a poor run of results that included a home draw against Grealish’s Villa.
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Hudson was also critical of the youthful contingent who made such an impact under their previous manager.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 21: Mason Mount of Chelsea heads the ball as Jack Grealish of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea FC at Villa Park on June 21, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“That’s the difference – Jack makes things happen, he knows the game, not like these kids, who are players-in-waiting.”
It was not long ago that Grealish was a young gun trying to prove himself in the Premier League. He has since flourished into an exceptional talent and many at Chelsea are on a similar track.
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One name that stands out is Mason Mount. The 22-year-old has easily been Chelsea’s best player this season and has a comparable influence on his team as Grealish does at Villa.
The pair have parallels in their respective styles of play.
Both can drive forward from midfield with real purpose and are quiet often central to an attacking move.
Mount and Grealish have been pitted against each other as rivals not just at club level, but the international set up as well.
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Plenty was made about which one would make it into Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Mason Mount of England(L), Jadon Sancho of England(C) and Jack Grealish of England(R) look on during the national anthems during the international friendly match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on November 12, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Egerton – Pool/Getty Images)
This obsession caused Grealish to call the whole debate ‘annoying’ and that ‘they weren’t even fighting for the same spot’ (Sky Sports).
Southampton were rocked by Villa’s opener, and failed to forge any sort of response before the referee blew the half-time whistle, bringing an exciting 45 minutes to a close.
Aston Villa recovered from their defeat to Burnley in midweek by beating Southampton 1-0 at St. Mary’s, with Ross Barkley making the difference for Dean Smith’s side.
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The Saints thought they’d won a penalty in the first half, when Stuart Armstrong’s shot cannoned off Matty Cash’s outstretched arm, but VAR unbelievably did not decide to intervene, and play continued.
Southampton continued to dominate the opening stages but couldn’t find a way through their opponents’ defence.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins came close on a couple of occasions for the visitors, and Jack Grealish began to cause plenty of problems down the left-hand side.
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And it was loanee Ross Barkley who broke the deadlock on 40 minutes, racing onto Grealish’s delicious floated cross and heading the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the net.
The second half was equally entertaining, as Southampton continued to push for an equaliser. Emi Martinez was called into some drastic action to keep out Che Adams, and Cash also threw himself into the line of fire to keep the forward at bay.
Nathan Redmond fired over the crossbar via a deflection from just inside the penalty area on 83 minutes to waste another wonderful opportunity.
Martinez made another great save to deny Jan Bednarek from the resulting corner, and Cash was on hand once again to stop Jack Stephens’ effort on the line.
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Southampton were awarded six minutes of stoppage time to try and find a way through Villa’s stubborn defence, and they thought they had finally beaten the Argentine shot-stopper in the 93rd minute.
Danny Ings bundled the ball over the line and wheeled away in celebration, but the goal was pulled back for an offside infringement in the buildup. It appeared to be another extremely harsh decision against the hosts, but the linesman’s call stood, and the visitors snatched all three points.
Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Morgan Sanson from Marseille on a four-and-a-half year deal.
The midfielder made 157 appearances for Les Olympiens over the past four seasons, registering 25 goals and 22 assists.
Speaking to the club’s website, he said he hoped his stay at Villa Park would be a fruitful one.
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“I’m really happy to be here. I’m very proud to join the Aston Villa Family, and in the future I hope we can do great things together. It’s a magical club, a big club in England. When Aston Villa called me, I didn’t have to think about it for a long time – it was the best opportunity for me and my career,” he began.
“I spoke with the coach and he is a great coach who is appreciated by the fans. He makes good football and the team play well, and I like the players who play for this team.
“I’m very excited to play with my new teammates. I have watched the team very intensely since we talked with the club.
“I love the team; I love the spirit – I’m a warrior and I like it when all the players run for the team and run for the club. I appreciate watching Villa because it’s good football. I hope the best for the club. I think we have a very good team.”
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Villa boss Dean Smith also revealed his delight at the move, saying: “Morgan has performed consistently at the highest level in French football for a number of seasons as well as in this season’s Champions League, and is a player with the quality and experience to play in any midfield position.
“He will add real competition for starting places and gives us more squad depth which is vital to competing successfully in the Premier League.”
As a result, the Premier League Board has agreed to Aston Villa’s request to postpone the match on Sunday
The Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Everton on Sunday 17 January has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the Villa camp.
Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground was closed on Thursday 7 January following a number of positive tests among the Villans first team.
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Dean Smith’s side were forced to field a starting XI of debutants from their Under-23 and Under-18 sides for the FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool the following day.
Their Premier League fixture against Tottenham that had been scheduled for Wednesday 13 January was postponed as a result of the outbreak, and the Premier League confirmed that Sunday’s clash has been too.
Picture of a Stadium. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
“Aston Villa’s home match against Everton, scheduled to be played on Sunday 17 January at 12pm, has been postponed by the Premier League Board,” the statement released by the Premier League read.
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“Following the rescheduling of Villa’s game against Tottenham Hotspur, which was due to be played last night, a significant number of players and staff remain in isolation.
“Newcastle United’s postponed match at Aston Villa, which was due to be played on 4 December 2020, has been rescheduled and will now be played on Saturday 23 January at 8pm, live on Sky Sports.
“The Premier League, in consultation with its clubs, has enhanced its COVID-19 protocols, in addition to reimplementing a twice-weekly testing programme as the heath of players and staff remains the priority.
“The protocols, which strengthen key elements of the existing guidance, came into immediate effect last week.”
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Public Health England guidelines state that individuals who have tested positive for Covid or anyone who has come into contact with someone who has tested positive must self-isolate for 10 days.
Nine Aston Villa first team players and five staff members tested positive – meaning the earliest the Villa squad can come out of isolation is Sunday 17 January.
Aston Villa went up a gear in the second half with Jack Grealish pulling the strings in midfield and it was no surprise when Watkins headed home in the 72nd minute.
Aston Villa returned to winning ways in stunning fashion as Ollie Watkins scored twice in a 3-0 away thumping of an abject Arsenal in drizzly north London on Sunday.
The visitors had already seen a John McGinn goal ruled out for a harsh offside decision when Bukayo Saka, under pressure from Trezeguet, put into his own goal after 25 minutes.
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Watkins struck again three minutes later after a rapid counter-attack to seal the points.
Two consecutive defeats had halted Aston Villa’s early season charge but they moved back up to sixth with 15 points from eight games.
Inconsistent Arsenal are down in 11th with 12 points after four wins and four defeats so far.
Arsenal have joined the race to sign Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish by expressing a serious interest, though are unwilling to meet the £80million valuation of the Midlands club.
Grealish played a starring role in keeping his boyhood team in the Premier League on the final day of the season, though is heavily tipped to embrace a new challenge this summer.
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Mikel Arteta’s side have now registered their interest with Villa, as report NobleSports but would be looking for the price to reduce significantly.
It is reported that a number of clubs are willing to pay between £50m and £60m for the attacking midfielder, though Villa’a stance has tightened now they have remained in the English top flight.
The club will hold out for around £20m more than suitors are currently willing to pay, wanting an £80m injection into their bank account after avoiding the financial hit of dropping down into the Championship.
Arsenal boss Arteta has however previously acknowledged that he is unaware whether serious funds will be provided for him this summer, as he sets about a rebuild of the north London club.
Arsenal’s summer transfer budget has been hit by their failure to qualify for the Champions league, along with the financial implications the club – like many others – has sustained due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Grealish, who will turn 25 in September, currently has three years left on his contract and Villa are under no obligation to sell.
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As reported by NobleSports this week, Villa’s strong valuation of their captain also appears to have deterred Manchester United, who are set to turn their attention elsewhere.
Grealish is said to be hopeful of a move in order to boost his England credentials, and feature for the national team during the postponed European championships which are set to take place next year.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to add strength to his attacking flanks and is a known admirer of Grealish.
Villa’s demands however now mean a likely pursuit is off with sole concentration on Jadon Sancho, although a deal with his club side Borussia Dortmund is still some way off.
The German giants are still demanding at least £100m for the England international, who signed a new deal with the club last year.
Goals from Sadio Mane and Curtis Jones settled a game in which champions Liverpool were far from their best against Aston Villa.
Match Reports
Liverpool won their first game at Anfield as Premier League champions as a 2-0 victory piled the misery on relegation-threatened Aston Villa.
Having been angered by the Reds’ 4-0 loss to Manchester City on Thursday, Jurgen Klopp saw his side triumph on Sunday even if the performance still left much to be desired.
Sadio Mane’s 71st-minute goal broke the visitors’ stubborn resolve before Curtis Jones added late gloss as Dean Smith’s men, winless in nine in the league, remained in the bottom three.
Match Events
20′ Yellow Card! Robertson booked
Robertson picks up the first yellow card of the game after cutting out Luiz’s run.
58′ Van Dijk makes an important clearance
Van Dijk gives the ball to Luiz and he has a lot of room to run into down the middle. He has El Ghazi with him in support and he drifts past Robertson before cutting into the box. Van Dijk recovers though and makes an important interception before he can have a shot.
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71′ GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa (Mane)
Mane gets goal side of Taylor at the far post as Keita squares the ball through the middle and there’s nothing the Villa defenders can do as he sidefoots his shot over Reina and into the roof of the net. 1-0 Liverpool!
76′ NICE TRY! Firmino’s shot saved
Firmino plays a one-two with Salah on the edge of the box to open up some space for a shot and he takes it first time when he gets the return. He squeezes it through the defenders in the box and Reina dives across to push it away.
89′ GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa (Curtis Jones)
He’s left in a lot of space in the middle of the box and he hits the shot on the volley when he gets it from Salah. It bounces in front of Reina before hitting the back of the net for his first Premier League goal.
Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish needs more protection from referees, manager Dean Smith said after the midfielder became the most fouled player in the Premier League this season.
Statistics by sports data provider Opta showed Grealish was fouled nine times in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea – the most on one player in a single game this season.
His tally for the campaign stands at 140, with Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha the next most targeted player, drawing 98 fouls this season.
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“Jack has had a marker on him all season…,” Smith told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s league trip to Newcastle United.
“The most surprising stat will be that there’s only about five bookings for those 140 fouls.
“The officials probably need to protect him more for sure. He’s got bruises all over his shins and his side.”
Villa are second from bottom with eight games remaining.
Conor Hourihane has admitted Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is ‘too good’ for his side and destined for a big move.
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An impressive season in the Premier League has seen the midfielder linked with several of the division’s top clubs, with Manchester United the favourites to secure his signature.
Hourihane believes the 24-year-old has taken his game to the next level in recent seasons and thinks it is only a matter of time before Gareth Southgate gives him his first England call-up.
‘He’s top, top class. In terms of pure ability and sheer skill and technique level he’s easily the best player I’ve played with to date,’ he told the Southern Star’s podcast.
‘He’s just got that gift. He runs quicker with the ball, when he faces someone up you’re in real trouble. He’s skipping by the best players in this league so easily.
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‘He’s developed over the three years I’ve been here – he’s taken his game to a new level – especially this year in the Premier League.
‘He’s taken it by storm really. You know, England team and getting that big move is only a matter of time because, if I’m being brutally honest, he’s too good for our team at Aston Villa.’
Villa were in a relegation battle before the suspension of football due to coronavirus but the midfielder has still managed nine goals and eight assists across all competitions.
Grealish made headlines for the wrong reasons at the end of March after he broke government lockdown rules to attend a party at the apartment of his former team-mate Ross McCormack.
He allegedly crashed his £70,000 Range Rover into two other vehicles, leaving the scene before the police were called.
He later posted an apology on Twitter, saying he was ‘deeply embarrassed’ after his actions.
Former England striker, Emile Heskey, has described Leicester City star, Kelech Iheanacho’s goal as ‘really impressive’ after the 23-year-old scored in the Foxes’ Carabao Cup 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Wednesday night at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho came on as a substitute in the second-half to score the equalizer for Brendan Rodgers’men after Freddy Guilbert had put Aston Villa ahead in the first-half.
Hesky believes Iheanacho’s touch and finish against Aston Villa was great.
“It was a great finish from Kelechi Iheanacho,” Heskey told Sky Sports.
“That’s what he is capable of doing. I was surprised that they didn’t bring him on at half-time to be honest.
“He just gives them something different and you could see that they were really struggling to make chances.
“His goal was really impressive, especially the first touch which opened it up and the finish was great. He is that box player.
“If you give him that chance or half chance in and around the box, he’ll take it.”
“He has been unlucky in that he is up against Jamie Vardy who is on fire, so he hasn’t played that much,” Heskey added.
“But when he has played and come on the field, he has had a massive impact.”
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