Unai Emery
(Credit: Hasan Karim)
Jack Dawson
Thu 7 August 2025 18:10, UK
Aston Villa’s rise up the Premier League table has heaped expectations on the Birmingham outfit.
Unai Emery has transformed Villa from a relegation outfit to serious European contenders.
However, there are still flaws which cost the Birmingham club Champions League football this season.
Now, the cost of these errors has come to light ahead of the new Premier League season.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
Unai Emery has had trouble keeping Villa’s defence secure (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa have blown the most 2-0 leads in recent Premier League history
One of Aston Villa’s biggest issues is their defence.
Last season, Emery’s side shipped 51 goals, the most out of the top seven, with even lowly Everton conceding fewer.
This hasn’t been a recent issue but has been the bane of the Birmingham outfit for many years.
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Now, a recent study by Sport Bible (6 August) has claimed that Villa have blown the most 2-0 leads in the top-flight in the last five seasons.
Games where Aston Villa went 2-0 up and lost Date
Aston Villa 2-3 Wolves October 2021
Man City 3-2 Aston Villa May 2022
Man United 3-2 Aston Villa December 2023
Villa have made a habit of blowing a 2-0 lead
This honour is tied with Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Tottenham, with each side going on to lose three times after leading by two goals.
On top of this, Villa also ranks second in conceding goals, right after scoring at seven, with only rivals Wolves higher at eight.
This has really highlighted how costly Villa’s defence has been over recent years.
Emi Martinez waving
Emi Martinez only kept nine clean sheets last season in the Premier League (Credit: Imago)
Unai Emery needs to make radical changes to Villa’s backline
If these concerns are to be ironed out, Emery needs to consider making radical changes at Villa Park.
Clean sheets were hard to come by for Emi Martinez last season, with the Argentine only keeping nine in the Premier League despite Villa defending a lot less than other sides.
If Villa are to return to the Champions League, a good and reliable backline will be key.
Hopefully, Emery will consider signing a new top-quality defender in the transfer window to finally end their worries going into the new campaign.
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