Amadou Onana announced himself to the Aston Villa fans at the London Stadium by helping his team to three points.
When the 22-year-old secured a big-money transfer to Villa Park from Everton, he was insistent that he would do the talking on the field of play.
Onana scored on debut during Villa’s win at West Ham to make his first big announcement under Unai Emery.
There is still a long way to go, but this is a positive start and Aston Villa fans very much like what they see from the new man in their midfield.
Onana couldn’t express himself at Everton because he was playing for a defensive-minded team in a world of mess on and off the field of play – Aston Villa fans will love how Tim Iroegbunam performed on his Everton debut despite defeat.
But now, under the stewardship of Emery, with Villa in the Champions League, in an attacking system and with better players around him, this could be the start of the road where the Belgium star really explodes.
That’s why Alan Shearer named Onana in his Premier League Team of the Week after gameweek one, as he partners Newcastle United’s Joelinton and Manchester City duo Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis in midfield.
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer stated that Onana was ‘too much for West Ham’s midfield to handle’.
Amadou Onana named in Premier League Team of the Week
“What a way to start his Villa career,” said Shearer. “He got a debut goal and was too much for West Ham’s midfield to handle.”
Amadou Onana against Arsenal
Doing the job against West Ham is one thing, but then backing it up and performing against Arsenal is going to be a far tougher test.
Arsenal visit Villa Park on Saturday evening, with Emery doing the double over Mikel Arteta last season and denting the London club’s Premier League title hopes.
READ MORE: Unai Emery says one Aston Villa star will reach his ‘big’ potential by doing two things
Declan Rice called Ollie Watkins ‘unreal’ after he was named in the PFA Team of the Year, with Villa hoping he will have his shooting boots on because he only played 60 minutes of football this summer.
The England international returned late after helping his country reach the final of Euro 2024 and it might be a while before he is back to his best.
