Unai Emery has issued a warning to his Aston Villa players ahead of their trip to Brentford on Sunday.
Aston Villa are currently riding on a crest having gone unbeaten in their last five Premier League games while also confirming their place in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
Having secured back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Arsenal in the top flight, Unai Emery’s side have a chance to strengthen their position as title contenders on Sunday.
The Villans are two points behind league leaders Liverpool heading into the weekend’s action and face a Brentford side who have only won one of their last five matches.
Whilst Villa will fancy their chances of extending their unbeaten run, they will have to do it without some of their star players.
Midfielder Douglas Luiz and left-back Lucas Digne, who have started in every match this season, are unavailable after picking up their fifth bookings of the season against the Gunners last Saturday.
Villa also have concerns for Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey, who were forced off early and didn’t travel on Thursday night.
But Emery has pointed out that they aren’t the only team whose resources are being tested with Brentford set to miss Bryan Mbeumo for the clash.
Unai Emery says there’s “no excuses” for Aston Villa against Brentford
In an interview with the Express & Star, Emery said: “I think it is normal in every team for players to be suspended and injured.
“We faced Tottenham when they had players out injured and faced Man City who had a lot of players as well out.
“It is not an excuse for them and it is not an excuse for us. I want to be positive and support the players in our squad when the opportunity comes for them.”
Although Emery has said injuries to some first-team stars aren’t an excuse to not put in a good performance in this clash, it will be a difficult test for the Villans, regardless of form.
Aston Villa face a real test against Brentford on Sunday
Despite the Bees’ current poor run having compounded their recent woes with a defeat against Sheffield United, Thomas Frank’s side have only lost four of their last 27 matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Villa have also only claimed victory in one of their last ten meetings against Brentford while tasting three losses from their opening eight Premier League away matches this term.
With Emery continuing to dismiss his side as genuine title contenders, their somewhat inconsistent away form provides evidence for this argument.
Though a return of four points from trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth represents an improvement, they’ve found it tough to replicate their incredible home performances and that must change on Sunday.
