Aston Villa face Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up could look for the clash.
After their win over Arsenal last time out, the visitors will arrive at Villa Park full of confidence, while they also possess the quality to cause us problems, and so particularly coming off the back of a win in the Champions League in midweek, Villa must refocus and match their energy on Saturday afternoon.
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Andoni Iraola’s side have been inconsistent thus far though, and so it’s hoped that Emery can formulate a gameplan that exposes their weaknesses and helps us to secure all three points to continue our own impressive form so far this season.
Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Villa boss confirmed that Jaden Philogene is our only absentee due to suspension, and so having had a number of important boosts on Tuesday night with the likes of Ezri Konsa, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara featuring after injury as well as Tyrone Mings being named on the bench, we’ve got a strong group back together again.
However, having quality depth and competition is one thing, but if we are to reach our potential this season, it’s about managing the schedule successfully and ensuring we can compete on multiple fronts.
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Emiliano Martinez will continue between the posts, but there could be two tweaks to his backline as Emery shuffles the pack and brings in both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne for Diego Carlos and Ian Maatsen respectively.
It does still feel as though Digne is first-choice at left-back for now despite Maatsen impressing in midweek and staking his claim for a bigger role, while Cash will give us a better balance on the opposite side and will of course allow Ezri Konsa to shift back centrally next to Pau Torres in the middle.
That is arguably our best defence, albeit Diego Carlos has played very well in the last few games, but particularly as we’re at home and will need to set the tone and test Bournemouth’s defensive resiliency, while also needing to match the pace and threat that they pose in wide areas, those changes would perhaps make a lot of sense.
After shaking off his issue in midweek, Amadou Onana is expected to partner Youri Tielemans in our midfield pivot as they continue to play an influential part in our good form this season, but conversely, an out-of-form Leon Bailey could drop to the bench and make way for Jacob Ramsey to come back in.
That in turn would shift McGinn over to the right side with Morgan Rogers operating through the middle as he continues to shine, while Ollie Watkins is likely to return and replace Jhon Duran up top.
Our Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace next week will surely be a good opportunity for Bailey to find some form again, and also give the likes Maatsen, Joe Gauci, Mings, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia, Kamara and Jhon Duran a chance to start, but all eyes are on Bournemouth for now, and it would come as no surprise if we go with as strong a starting XI as possible for what will be a difficult challenge.