View: Philippe Coutinho repays Unai Emery faith as he shines in first half of Aston Villa v Arsenal
Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho has so far repaid the faith shown in him by Unai Emery with a superb first half showing against Arsenal at Villa Park.
In what’s been a frantic and pulsating half of football so far, Villa deservedly lead at half-time thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and the Brazilian maestro on either side of an equaliser from Bukayo Saka.
Villa started the game fast and in the ascendancy and that has been down to the brilliance of Coutinho who has shown in the half just how good he is.
The former Barcelona man has endured a rather difficult campaign before today, failing to establish himself since Emery’s appointment and was even linked [The Sun, 7 January] with a move away last month.
But Emery stated in midweek that the club had plans for the Brazilian for the remainder of the season, and rewarded him with a start against Arsenal in which he’s totally lived up to the billing, with a silky showing in the first half.
Coutinho took his goal brilliantly after a lovely passing move in which Buendia dummied a pass from Alex Moreno before the Brazilian hit a lovely low shot into the bottom corner.
The midfielder has been productive too, winning four of his eight ground duels so far, successfully completing all of his long balls, and registering one key pass. He also showed his feisty side, involving himself in a short melee with the Arsenal players before the end of the half.
The Villains were right to keep him in January, and the Brazilian has certainly repaid that faith so far.
In other Aston Villa news, the club are set to revive interest in an Athletic Bilbao player in the summer after a failed January swoop.