Anthony Onifade

Fri 15 December 2023 17:10, UK

Unai Emery could be set to make as many as seven Aston Villa changes for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium (17 December).

The Villans will be looking to make three successive victories and strengthen their position in the Premier League top three when they take on Thomas Frank’s men in West Midlands.

Aston Villa enter this contest off the back of securing their Europa Conference League last 16 place after a 1-1 against Zrinjski on Thursday and Emery will be expected to ring the changes once again for Sunday’s crucial clash.

In goal, Emi Martinez will be expected to come back in goal given his undisputed status in Emery’s team after academy graduate Filip Marschal started and impressed against Zrinjski on Thursday.

In defence, Emery went with Matty Cash against the Bosnians and the Polish international did impress, winning 60% of his ground duels, 100 per cent of his aerial duels, registered one key pass and completed 92 per cent of his passes [SofaScore] but Ezri Konsa will be expected to move to right-back again after lining up at centre-back in Europe.

At centre-back, Torres was at his metronomic best against Zrinjski, completing over 90 per cent of his passes yet again as he set the tone from deep once more and the Spaniard should retain his spot and line up alongside Diego Carlos, who came in for a brief 20-minute cameo during the week.

At left back, Lucas Digne is suspended for Sunday’s encounter which means Emery will be forced to pick former Real Betis defender Alex Moreno, despite his abysmal showing against Zrinjski.

Moreno failed to win a single tackle or interception, won just one of his three total duels, and lost possession seven times.

The 30-year-old also failed with all of his three attempted crosses and his single long ball whilst also failing to register a single key pass despite his attacking nature and the quality of the opposition. However, he should start on Sunday and must improve against a dangerous Brentford team.

In midfield, Emery confirmed (via Birmingham Live, 14 December) that Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey will both be fit enough to feature against the Bees and both players should return to the starting XI, but the Belgian could yet line up in central midfield alongside Boubacar Kamara with Douglas Luiz suspended.

John McGinn and the in-form Leon Bailey – who now has five goals and four assists – should replace both Jacob Ramsey and Moussa Diaby after their disappointing displays against Zrinjski with both players registering just one key pass between them, and both registering 0 per cent shots, 0 per cent interceptions and also long balls [SofaScore].

In attack, Emery faces a dilemma on whether to start Nicolo Zaniolo to replace Douglas Luiz but the Italian aside from his first goal for the club in Bosnia, pretty much impressed his manager with an encouraging and improved performance, after his early struggles at Villa Park.

His 100 per cent long-ball accuracy was supported by four attempted crosses, three shots on target and seven attempted dribbles which showed how he looked to make things happen in the final third.

Up-front, Ollie Watkins should replace Jhon Duran who started in Bosnia.

However, Emery will be expecting the Englishman to improve on his torrid individual display against Arsenal, where he completed just 42 per cent of his passes, lost possession 18 times, failed to register a key pass and failed to complete any of his two dribbles [SofaScore].

Watkins has enjoyed another fruitful season in front of goal so far, scoring 13 goals and registering eight goals in all competitions [Transfermarkt] and Aston Villa will certainly need him at his goalscoring best again on Sunday.

In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton made a new admission after the Arsenal result.