Ollie Watkins’ 90th minute header salvaged Aston Villa a point on the south-coast as they twice came from behind to draw away at Bournemouth.
The Cherries’ Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring, before Leon Bailey equalised for the visitors. Dominic Solanke put the hosts back ahead in the second-half, but Watkins, who was an injury doubt heading into the fixture, clawed it back in stoppage-time to keep The Villans in the top four of the Premier League.
Join Liam as he discusses some of the key talking points from yesterday’s stalemate at the Vitality Stadium…
Words by: Liam Davies
THE BEST IN THE WORLD
Emi Martínez kept Aston Villa in that game yesterday. A lot has been said about the heroics of Ollie Watkins – and rightfully so, of course – but Unai Emery’s side would not have been in a position to score a late equaliser if it wasn’t for their number one.
The Argentine made a total of five saves on the south-coast yesterday afternoon (according to FlashScore) and these weren’t just ordinary, routine saves either, they were world class ones.
Dibu pulled off a crucial stop just after the opening goal to deny Antoine Semenyo from doubling his goals tally, tipping the ball over from an acute angle. Additionally, the 31-year-old made a number of vital point blank saves to prevent Dominic Solanke from hitting the back of net, keeping the score-line closer than it probably should have been.
Ultimately, Bournemouth could have been three or four goals up heading into stoppage-time and Watkins’ late strike would have been nothing but a consolation.
Martínez’s form of late has been spectacular; the former Arsenal shot-stopper was just as clutch last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, with that double save to deny Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the second-half springing to mind.
We are incredibly lucky to have Emi at the club and this will not be the last game this season where the Argentine saves us (quite literally). He is the best in the world, after all.
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INCONSISTENCY, VULNERABILITY AND THAT RIGHT-BACK ROLE
This season has been nothing short of fantastic, let’s not get it twisted, but it hasn’t been perfect. The 2023/24 home form has been immaculate with six wins from six, 18 points from a possible 18 in the league – a 100% record at Villa Park. Outstanding.
It’s on the road where the problem lies. Naturally, it is more difficult away from home, I get that, but the performances have been lacking the basics and there has been a clear absence of stability, particularly at the back. This inconsistency is the difference between a good team and that elite level which we all crave.
Last season, Emery’s side prided themselves on having a solid base; a base that was often the catalyst for three points, both home and away. It seems as if that stability has faded slightly this year. On their travels, Villa have conceded 15 goals in eight games and have kept just the one clean sheet (1-0 vs Chelsea in September). A clear contrast to the previous campaign.
This could be down to Tyrone Mings’ absence, of course. The number five played a significant part in last year’s defensive security and whilst those that have come in have performed well, his leadership and organisational skills, for me, are irreplaceable and that deprivation is being felt.
The side looks vulnerable out of possession, in my opinion. Whether it was a tactical error or not, Ezri Konsa, who played right-back yesterday, found himself 1v2 time and time again and whilst the number four looked good statistically, winning each of his duels, to the naked eye appeared exposed and it was down Villa’s right side where The Cherries found most of their joy on the weekend.
The right full-back position, to me, is one that needs addressing and is a role I believe Unai Emery, Monchi and Damian Vidagany will be keeping a close eye on in the upcoming transfer windows.
On the whole, it was a good point away from home, especially when you consider the torrid times we’ve had at the Vitality Stadium over the years, Bournemouth’s growing form and given the context of the game (being a goal down in the closing stages).
It’s a game that, on the face of it, Villa should be winning, however. We want to be in and around the top four of the Premier League and you need to be coming away from these types of matches with all three points, no questions asked.
Mistakes are bound to happen, but they are currently happening too frequently and it’s truly costing us. Nevertheless, I do think these errors and inconsistencies within the side will be resolved in time. Emery would have spotted them and you can put your house on the fact it’ll be discussed profusely with the squad over the next few days. I’d hate to be in those meetings.
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THE CURIOUS CASE OF NICOLÒ ZANIOLO
*sigh*
I really want it to work out for Nicolò Zaniolo. The Italian is a great character in the dressing room, you can see he possesses great ability, it’s just not quite happening for the loanee. In his defence, the 24-year-old has been plagued with unnecessary difficulty this season: facing the detriment of the betting scandal and also a recent injury problem would leave anyone feeling somewhat subdued.
Zaniolo is a fan-base splitter. Some can see the potential and thinks he’ll eventually come good in claret and blue and others think he’s just not good enough and cannot see the untapped talent. Regardless, he deserves our support. It seems the former AS Roma midfielder is the most recent Villan to be scapegoated and at fault for just about everything that goes wrong on the pitch. It’s unfair.
I think he just needs a ‘moment’; something that will spark that bit of confidence that he so desperately needs – whether that be a first goal or a piece of individual play that leads to a goal, the second it happens, I think we will begin to see the best of the 24-year-old.
You can see he is shot of confidence – his body language on the pitch screams ‘deflated’. I think it unjust to criticise Zaniolo for his work-rate and effort, however. It’s evident he is trying and wants to succeed at the club, he’s just lacking that sharpness and cutting edge at the moment.
Emery signed the number 22 for a reason, he’s not here just to make up the numbers. The boss thinks he can play a key role this season, but ne needs the support and backing of the fan-base too or it’ll never work. It is frustrating to see, especially when the rest of the side is performing, but hounding him for his sub-par displays will do him and ultimately the whole team no favours.
Get behind him. He’ll come good, I’m sure.
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR: LIAM DAVIES
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