By TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 02:00 EST, 31 December 2025 | Updated: 02:00 EST, 31 December 2025
During the build-up to Arsenal's clash with Aston Villa, Jamie Carragher was invited to discuss the Premier League leaders' starting XI. 'I can't take my eye off their bench,' replied the Sky Sports pundit.
Unai Emery must have felt the same way. Kai Havertz. Gabriel Jesus. Eberechi Eze. Noni Madueke. Ben White. Five senior internationals. Combined cost: £280million.
Aston Villa are hardly poor relations but they are not operating anywhere near that level. And while only a fool would seek to deny Unai Emery's brilliance as a coach, the Spaniard is not quite the same force in the transfer market.
However, with the January window around the corner and Emery determined that Villa should be active, his substitutions in the closing minutes told an eloquent tale.
With Arsenal 4-0 up, Emery sensibly decided Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers should be saved for Saturday's meeting with Nottingham Forest. Their replacements were academy products George Hemmings and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, both making their Premier League debuts.
A few minutes earlier, Arsenal had brought on Jesus, a £45m signing, and he promptly scored the fourth. Shortly after the Villa youngsters had come on, Madueke (fee: £52m) joined the action.
Unai Emery was left with plenty to think about after Aston Villa's 4-1 thrashing at Arsenal
Villa detest Premier League spending rules, which they believe reward clubs who generate huge revenue off the pitch more than those who perform well on it.
Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris has the money to spend as lavishly as Arsenal have, but the rules mean he cannot do so without risking points penalties.
Emery would naturally love to make a big push in January. Instead, Villa will have to trade cleverly, as they did 12 months ago when the loan arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio nearly helped Villa into the Champions League.
This is where Emery and his closest allies must not lose their composure. He would like a right back and at least one forward, ideally one who can play out wide or through the middle.
Yet Villa's issue is this: hamstrung as they are, they will struggle to afford players who would improve their starting XI – and even if they could, there is no guarantee those players would join.
But when everyone is available, they have a very good squad. So do not panic. Don't make impulsive trades for the sake of it, that serve mainly to increase the wage bill. No more deals like the bizarre loan arrangement for Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott.
Part of Emery's genius is his ability to analyse and prepare for matches in mind-boggling detail. Villa do not always apply the same rigour to the market. That must change this winter.
The difference in squad depth was evident when academy product George Hemmings (left) came on for Villa, while Arsenal brought on £52m summer signing Noni Madueke
Martinez must make amends
If these are to be Emi Martinez's final few months at Aston Villa, he will be determined quickly to banish the memory of his mistakes against Chelsea and Arsenal.
The Argentine has been one of Villa's best players of modern times. Yet in these two matches in London, he has been badly exposed at corners. Against Chelsea, it did not matter as Villa fought back to win 2-1. At Emirates Stadium, his uncertain handling allowed Gabriel to bundle Arsenal into the lead and that set the tone for the second half.
Since the last tumultuous summer, when Martinez was desperate to leave, player and club resemble a couple who have had a major wobble, stayed together and are now trying to prove everything is OK again.
Yet there have been subtle changes. Martinez is no longer introduced as 'the world's No 1' when the teams are announced at Villa Park. Ezri Konsa appears to have taken over the vice-captaincy and with John McGinn starting on the bench, he wore the armband ahead of Martinez. The 33-year-old will always make his share of brilliant saves and is serenaded accordingly by the Holte End. It is still not quite the same.
Nobody would be surprised if Martinez left Villa after the World Cup. He might feel that is the time to move to the Saudi Pro League, having rejected those offers in the past.
Vice-captain or no vice-captain, Martinez is the strongest personality in the squad and when he is engaged, he is a strong force for good in the dressing room. In recent weeks, Martinez has been exactly that. After their winning run came to an end in such shuddering fashion, Villa will need those leadership qualities now.
Villa need Emiliano Martinez (centre) to be back to his best if they are to maintain their form
Bring back Boubacar
Who is Aston Villa's best player? Fans of other clubs who see Villa mainly on highlights programmes would probably say Morgan Rogers or Martinez. Until this season, Ollie Watkins would also have been high on the list.
All are reasonable answers, but none is correct. As anyone who watches Villa regularly will tell you, Boubacar Kamara is the key man for this team.
Boubacar Kamara was suspended for the defeat at Arsenal and his absence was sorely missed
The Frenchman is one of the best holding midfielders in Europe and Villa's move in 2022 to sign him on a free transfer, inspired by former sporting director Johan Lange, was a stroke of genius. Had Kamara not suffered injury problems, he would probably be playing for one of Europe's elite by now.
The 26-year-old had a stop-start opening to the campaign as he struggled for full fitness. Villa did not win in the league until late September and did not even score until the middle of that month.
With Kamara's engine running smoothly again, Villa reeled off 12 league wins from 13. He missed the Arsenal game through suspension and Villa shipped four goals for the first time since they lost 4-1 at Tottenham on November 3, 2024. In case you were wondering, Kamara did not start that game either and came on only for the final nine minutes.
No prizes for guessing which name will be first on the team sheet when Emery picks his XI to face Forest.
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