Unai Emery put Aston Villa’s pre-season troubles behind him by helping Aston Villa to a deserved 2-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday.
For large parts of the summer, the team has looked slow, error-prone and lacking that bite in their game, as they suffered four defeats in pre-season.
But Aston Villa proved that none of that matters because, as soon as that ball was kicked at the London Stadium, they looked like their old selves.
Amadou Onana scored on his Villa debut and was bossing proceedings in the middle of the mark, Leon Bailey and Matty Cash were enjoying themselves on the right flank, as Pau Torres was playing like the modern-day centre-back and the amazing player he is.
Yes, it needed Jhon Duran to come off the bench and score the winner for Villa, but it was still deserved and Gabriel Agbonlahor was delighted with the team’s performance.
The former striker named several Villa players in his Team of the Week, but one man in particular got high praise.
Villa signed Torres from Villarreal last summer for £32 million (Birmingham Mail) and he has proven to be a top-class purchase.
Despite Torres guiding Villa to fourth spot and the Champions League, he was left out of Spain’s squad for Euro 2024 in the summer to the shock of Agbonlahor.
Agbonlahor stated that Emery’s side play in the manner in which they do because of their left-footed Spanish star, as he told talkSPORT.
Pau Torres and Aston Villa’s style of play
“I was shocked in the summer that he didn’t get called up for Spain,” said Agbonlahor.
“Spain went on to win it comfortably the tournament, the Euros, but Pau Torres, he is the reason that Aston Villa play how they do. He receives the ball, he drifts out of that centre-half position, he’s comfortable coming into midfield and making those passes into the strikers or into the wingers. He is so good on the ball that he gives us that chance to play the style of football we want to play.
“And also what I loved about Saturday’s game was you had a front-three of Antonio, Kudus and Bowen, and he kept them quiet. They normally cause teams real problems, especially Bowen. I felt that Bowen looked like he was still on holiday. He was that quiet. So, I think Pau Torres for me deserves be in the Team of the Week because he was very good on the ball and he looked aggressive in his defending.”
Aston Villa’s defence
You wonder if it could still get a makeover before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.
Diego Carlos’ future at Villa is in the balance, with the hard-hitting centre-back on the bench for the West Ham game amid suggestions he could leave.
READ MORE: Unai Emery says one Aston Villa star will reach his ‘big’ potential by doing two things
Aston Villa have been strongly linked with Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, but he was completely left out of Arne Slot’s first game in charge away at Ipswich Town.
You feel a few more changes could be made before deadline day because defensive cover is needed.
Villa are in the Champions League and they need more quality if they want to compete on both fronts because it’s going to be a big ask.
