Unai Emery, Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa badge
(Credit: TNT Sports on X)
Keith Hackett
Thu 13 March 2025 18:10, UK
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will have every right to feel upset should he watch back footage of Aston Villa’s win over Club Brugge.
Villa saw off Club Brugge on Wednesday (12 March) to advance 6-1 on aggregate and set up a quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Champions League match at Villa Park had one or two contentious moments, but there is no denying that Unai Emery’s men were deserving victors over the two legs.
However, something that happened late on in the contest caught the attention of former FIFA official Keith Hackett.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa v Club Brugge match stopped early
As the match ticked towards the 90th minute, Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen and Villa counterpart Emery could be seen in conversation.
TNT Sports posted a clip on X [12 March] and suggested the two managers had come to the conclusion that the match should be finished early, without any additional time.
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On the basis of three goals being scored and eight substitutions being made, across three different breaks in play, a number of minutes were expected to be added on.
Aston Villa – 3 Club Brugge – 0
Marco Asensio, 50′, 61′
Ian Maatsen, 57′
How the game between Aston Villa and Club Brugge played out.
That was not the case, though, and Hackett insists that is simply “unacceptable” as it is against the rules of the game.
And Hackett raised an example from a game on the same night as Raheem Sterling was booked in added time for Arsenal against PSV – a game in which additional minutes were played despite Arsenal being 9-3 up on aggregate – which triggered a one-match suspension.
“Match officials are expected to apply the laws of the game. In the case of timing of matches, two equal halves of 45 minutes are played, with added time played at the end of each half,” Hackett exclusively told Villa News.
“I’m amazed that the fourth official in the Villa-Brugge game was persuaded by the manager because of the high score. He decided to cut the game short and not play added time.
“This is not within his remit. How do you think Arteta feels, when Raheem Sterling was cautioned in the third minute of added time of the Arsenal game?
“Match officials have to apply the game equally, fairly and accurately. Timing of games is so important. We know that actual playing time is much less than it should be. This is unacceptable by the match official.”
Aston Villa set up PSG quarter-final in Champions League
Aston Villa‘s reward for their rather resounding two-legged win over Club Brugge is a showdown with Emery’s former side PSG.
It goes without saying that facing the Parisians will be a major step up in quality, but supporters are right to feel quietly confident of an upset.
Emery is a master when it comes to two-legged football, as highlighted by his four Europa League crowns.
If nothing else, expect a famous night under the Villa Park lights next month.
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