Aston Villa opened their Premier League account with a victory over West Ham and Troy Deeney believes one player did something that went unnoticed against the Hammers.
Unai Emery’s men made the perfect start to the season as Jhon Duran’s late winner secured Aston Villa all three points from the London Stadium.
Duran came off the bench, replacing Ollie Watkins in the second half, with the young Colombian striker stealing the headlines.
But he wasn’t the only player who impressed on Saturday evening. As usual, Pau Torres was a colossus at the back, while Morgan Rogers ran the show from midfield, driving forward with his pace and power.
Rogers wasn’t the only player in the Villa engine room who stood out, as new signing Amadou Onana was instrumental in their fine display.
- READ MORE: Gary Neville’s warning to Aston Villa in the Champions League as he reacts to win at West Ham
What Amadou Onana did that went unnoticed against West Ham
Onana didn’t take long to score his first Villa goal, powering a header home from Youri Tielemans corner inside four minutes.
Ian Wright felt that Onana was very impressive for Aston Villa as it wasn’t just scoring where he excelled, dominating against the hosts’ midfield with his strength and power while showcasing a calmness in possession.
Breaking up play was a side of his game that went unnoticed against West Ham, as the Belgium brute won seven ground duels, three tackles and three aerial duels.
- READ MORE: Amadou Onana names the Aston Villa player that is ‘crucial’ this season, it’s not Ollie Watkins
When picking his Team of the Week for BBC Sport, Troy Deeney selected Onana for that exact reason, writing: “He got a goal on his Aston Villa debut but Onana was all over West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta throughout too. The Belgium midfielder broke up the play and did all the horrible things you wouldn’t really see, unless you have a bit of a trained eye.”
Unai Emery can take Onana to the next level
It’s early days in his Villa career but the signs suggest Onana can become an incredible midfielder for Emery, with the Spaniard taking him to the next level.
The ‘terrific’ 23-year-old was often used in a defensive position for Everton, breaking up play and releasing the ball quickly.
Now he’s playing in more of a progressive system, he can transform into a midfield powerhouse, where he’s capable of winning the ball back, driving forward and getting himself into the box.
Emery will want to see his all-round game flourish centrally and against West Ham, it is clear the impact he’s already had on the young midfielder, who will only get better and better.
Indeed, the £50 million signing will play a pivotal role in their chase for Europe and the prospects of Villa going deep into the Champions League.
