Predicting Unai Emery’s Aston Villa lineup to take on Brentford away in the Premier League.
Aston Villa are on the road for the first time this season as they head to the capital to face Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
Unai Emery’s side travel to the Gtech Community Stadium with a point to prove after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on the opening weekend. Villa, reduced to 10 men after Ezri Konsa’s red card, didn’t register a single shot in the first half and stuttered throughout the second period.
The travelling Villa Park faithful will be expecting a much better attacking display this weekend and they could get just that, as Emery’s men take on a Brentford side that looks significantly weaker than this time last year. The Bees have lost manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, star man Bryan Mbuemo left for Manchester United and striker Yoanne Wissa is refusing to play after handing in a transfer request.
Despite Brentford’s current unrest, Emery will show great respect to his opponents and will field as strong a lineup as possible. The team news is mixed as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez returns from suspension but Konsa is banned following last weekend’s sending-off. Emery will need to choose a replacement for Konsa, while there are dilemmas at left-back, in midfield and on both wings.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Brentford
With all of that in mind, here’s the starting XI we reckon Emery will name at the Gtech, with reasons for each inclusion.
GK - Emiliano Martinez: Now back from suspension, Martinez is expected to slot back into the XI. It feels harsh to bench Marco Bizot after such a brilliant debut but Martinez is the clear number one.
RB - Matty Cash: Locked in and focused, Cash is ahead of Andres Garcia in the pecking order as it stands despite being linked with a move to Nottingham Forest. The Poland international may have more competition if Villa decide to sign a new right-sided defender, but it’s his place for now.
CB - Boubacar Kamara: The favourite to slot in for the suspended Ezri Konsa is Kamara, who took on that role for the final half an hour on Saturday. Emery trusts the Frenchman in the back four, more so than a left-footer on the wrong side.
CB - Pau Torres: It’s a tough call between Pau and Tyrone Mings, but we think the Spaniard will start on this occasion. Villa weren’t at all incisive with their passing out from the back against Newcastle and Pau coming in could help them rectify that.
LB - Lucas Digne: Fresh off signing a new contract, Digne remains first choice ahead of Ian Maatsen, but only marginally. There will be a lot of chopping and changing between the two left-backs this campaign.
CM - Amadou Onana: Albeit not nailed in the XI most weeks, Onana is likely to play again with Kamara dropping deeper. The Belgium international will be eager to beat last season’s tally of 20 Premier League starts.
CM - Youri Tielemans: Named Villa’s best player last season, Tielemans is undroppable. Talks are expected to be held over a new deal as Villa want to cement the Belgian’s status as one of the club’s most valuable assets.
RM - Donyell Malen: Following an impressive pre-season, Malen deserves to come into the XI. Leon Bailey has now left for AS Roma on loan and Evann Guessand is still settling in.
LM - Morgan Rogers: The PFA Young Player of the Year winner is typically best in the attacking midfield position but could controversially be named as a left midfielder once again. Jacob Ramsey’s exit for Newcastle has left Villa light on this side.
CAM - John McGinn: Ineffective on the right last time out, McGinn is better suited to playing in the number 10 role. The skipper’s hold-up play could be effective as he can spray passes wide to the speedy Rogers and Malen.
ST - Ollie Watkins: Now Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer having nudged ahead of Gabby Agbonlahor, Watkins has gained icon status. The striker will be eager to make it eight goals in eight against his former team.
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