BirminghamLive brings you the talking points after Aston Villa's defeat at Brentford
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa disappointed in the capital on Saturday afternoon, suffering their first defeat of the new Premier League season.
Dango Ouattara opened the scoring in the 12th minute, latching onto Igor Thiago’s flick-on and finishing on the rebound after Emi Martinez had saved his initial effort.
Villa’s best chance of the game came early in the second half when Morgan Rogers found space in the box, but Michael Kayode made an excellent block to prevent his effort from troubling Caoimhin Kelleher.
Here are the talking points from Villa’s defeat...
What's needed in the final days of the window
Villa registered 17 shots against Brentford - their most in a Premier League game without scoring since October 2022 against Chelsea (18). However, only two of those 17 attempts were on target, highlighting one of the key issues on Saturday: a lack of cutting edge.
Ollie Watkins, who netted five times in pre-season, and Rogers, also sharp in the summer, did not make a significant impact in the opening two matches of the campaign. Watkins has lacked service, while Rogers has looked off the pace given the high standards he set last season.
Villa need both firing, especially considering they were the only two players in the current squad to record more than 10 goal involvements in the league last term.
More broadly, Villa have played too narrowly and too slowly, lacking both intensity and width. Without those components, they become predictable and easy to defend against - as Brentford showed, sitting in a low block and rarely looking troubled after taking the lead.
The only real threat came when Emi Buendia found Rogers in the box, only for Kayode - who was outstanding - to make another key intervention.
With just over a week remaining in the transfer window, it's vital that Villa add pace to Unai Emery’s squad - ideally in the form of a right winger who, like Leon Bailey at his best, can stretch the game and create space for others.
Emery has often cited John McGinn as a dependable option on the right, but he isn’t someone who can consistently beat his man or exploit space in behind.
It’s only been two matches, but Villa have looked worryingly predictable in the final third - something that recruitment can help address.
Transfers no excuse for Brentford struggles
Still, there was more than enough quality in the squad on Saturday to have scored at least once.
Villa signed Evann Guessand from Nice in a deal worth up to £30 million earlier this month, and he joined Donyell Malen on the bench.
The Dutchman arrived in January for £20 million and finished the 2023/24 season as Borussia Dortmund’s top scorer. However, despite an impressive pre-season, he has yet to earn Emery’s trust - failing to start either of the first two matches.
Villa are in desperate need of pace and movement off the ball. Without Malen on the pitch, there was little energy ahead of the ball when Youri Tielemans picked it up in deeper areas.
McGinn can certainly support the attack, but Emery has asked him to play a role that doesn’t showcase his best attributes. He also isn’t the ideal profile to counter the width provided by the opposing left wing-back - especially with Matty Cash staying deeper after Boubacar Kamara was forced off early in the first half.
Buendia replaced Kamara, forcing Tielemans to drop deeper, while Cash effectively became part of a back three in possession - limiting Villa’s threat down the right.
Following the recent departures of Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey, reinforcements are essential. Villa have posted an expected goals (xG) total of just 1.43 over their first 180+ minutes of Premier League football, registering only five shots on target. That simply isn’t good enough for a side with this level of talent.
Emi Buendia in and out again
The confusion surrounding Buendía’s role at Villa continued on Saturday. Chosen ahead of Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand to replace Boubacar Kamara, Buendía was then substituted with 15 minutes remaining.
Unsurprisingly, the Argentine showed visible frustration, throwing his arms up after he came off and tossing an armband aside as he made his way up the steps to his seat. He looked shocked that he had been brought off.
Buendía was involved in Villa’s best chance of the game, finding a pocket of space, turning sharply in possession, and laying the ball off to Rogers, whose shot was blocked inside the box. With his confidence up, he later attempted an audacious bicycle kick - though it didn’t trouble Caoimhin Kelleher.
On the surface, Buendía’s place in the squad appeared secure. Villa could play over 50 matches this season, and squad depth will be vital. However, if Monchi succeeds in adding another forward before the window closes, a decision about Buendía’s long-term future may need to be made again.
Last summer, the playmaker was recovering from an ACL injury and remained in the squad primarily for depth. He saw limited minutes in the first half of the campaign before joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan in January. The German side had an option to buy for £17 million but chose not to activate it.
Buendía impressed in pre-season, prompting Villa to lean toward keeping him. But if a new attacker arrives - particularly someone capable of supporting Watkins - his opportunities could again be limited. He already faces stiff competition from Guessand, McGinn, Malen, Rogers, and even Tielemans for a place in the attacking midfield roles.
One potential window for consistent action could open during the Africa Cup of Nations, when Guessand and other key players will be away on international duty. Chelsea target Nicolas Jackson, for example, will also be representing Senegal from December through January.
Claret & Blue verdict
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