Aston Villa Have Impressive Start
Villa began the 2024/2025 season with a rare opening day victory and a debut goal for the club record signing. Villa should now head into the home game against Arsenal full of confidence. Here are the latest Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans:
Hammertime
Not long ago, facing David Moyes’ West Ham was an unpleasant experience. With Declan Rice and a younger, sharper Thomas Soucek, matches were often over before they began. West Ham would dominate Villa physically, so much so that, between November 2020 and August 2022, Villa lost five consecutive games to the East London side. However, as with many things, this poor record changed with the arrival of Unai Emery. Saturday’s away win was a testament to how the tables have turned, with Villa’s new midfield signing dominating West Ham as the team produced a formidable display. A draw would have been a decent result given Villa’s recent opening-day troubles, but securing the win gives fans hope that the poor form of early 2024 has been left behind and this new-look Villa side is ready to make another push for the top.
Why Always Me
Jhon Duran evokes shades of Mario Balotelli – unpredictable and dangerous in equal measure, both on and off the pitch. Fans might have been offended by his petulance this summer, but many also recognize his talent and potential to achieve something special in his career. Balotelli could and should have accomplished much more, and much of Duran’s future will depend on his next steps. If he stays, however, his recent substitute appearances – against Liverpool last season and West Ham this past weekend – show what he is capable of: creating chaos. Two games were turned on their heads by his wildcard characteristics. One thing is certain – if he stays, it could be a very colourful season ahead.
Debutant Ball
Emery opted to start only one of the summer signings, Amadou Onana, while leaving Ian Maatsen and four other new additions on the bench. Onana delivered a man-of-the-match display, while Maatsen also impressed off the bench, heavily contributing to the winning goal with a sublime first-time pass. Kosta Nedeljkovic looked a bit nervous on the ball but showed plenty of effort and persistence in tracking back. Jaden Philogene also made a solid impact, offering a new challenge to the West Ham defense and helping Villa regain control of the game after a wobbly spell. The two big-money summer signings certainly left Villa fans eager for more.
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Midfield Boost
Unai Emery revealed that Boubacar Kamara is expected to rejoin his teammates on the training pitch next month, somewhat earlier than anticipated. With Ross Barkley failing to even get on the pitch and Enzo Barrenechea not making the squad at the weekend, it highlights the strength in depth that Villa currently possesses in midfield. Kamara’s return will be crucial in the autumn and winter, helping with the inevitable rotation between Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup games.
New Leaf
After the December 2024 double-header against Manchester City and Arsenal, Villa’s performances dipped overall. Aside from standout wins against Bournemouth at home and Arsenal away, the season’s end felt more like a limp across the finish line. Despite the season ending in huge success, there were concerns that this form might carry over into the new campaign. Any such fears were alleviated by an excellent away performance at West Ham, where Villa looked more like the formidable side of 2023. Now, fans will hope they can replicate last year’s result against Arsenal at Villa Park this weekend.
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