Unai Emery makes grave Ollie Watkins error –Aston Villa confirmed XI v Everton
Unai Emery has confirmed his starting XI to face Everton as Aston Villa return to Premier League action at Villa Park on Saturday (14 September).
Villa announced their team to face the Toffees on X (14 September), with Jacob Ramsey replacing Leon Bailey in the only change made from their 2-1 win at Leicester City before the international break.
Jhon Duran scored the winner in that match, as he did in the first game of the season against West Ham, but Emery has once again kept faith in the goalless Ollie Watkins up front.
Unai Emery could regret selecting Ollie Watkins against Everton
With Emi Martinez between the sticks as expected, the Villa centre-back pairing of Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa will form a solid defensive foundation which Everton will struggle to break down.
Lucas Digne will be keen to make an impact against his former club from left-back, while Lamare Bogarde keeps his place on the opposite flank despite a mixed showing against Leicester.
Another ex-Everton man in Amadou Onana has made just as big an impact as Duran so far this season, and alongside Youri Tielemans, will provide a solid midfield foundation with a goal threat included.
Ramsey continuing on the right flank in place of Bailey makes sense after he replaced the Jamaican international just 16 minutes into the win at Leicester, while skipper McGinn is a shoo-in on the left.
Up front, however, is where Emery surely had to change things up given Duran’s form so far this season – although his decision to keep faith in Morgan Rodgers alongside Watkins is a wise one.
Duran has scored twice from just 0.7 xG so far this season compared to Watkins’ zero goals from a staggering 1.58 xG [SofaScore], while the Colombian also leads his team-mate for expected assists (0.14 to 0.02).
Defensively too, Duran beats Watkins hands down, with 0.3 clearances and blocks apiece per 90 so far this season. Watkins is yet to do one of either, and unlike Duran has also been dribbled past.
Furthermore, Duran’s success in aerial duels – 60 per cent to Watkins’ 33.3 per cent – significantly outnumbers that of Watkins, and although he’s become Villa’s go-to super-sub, the 20-year-old should have been given his first start of the campaign against the winless Toffees.
Hopefully, it doesn’t come back to haunt them.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery must have words with one of his stars after he lashed out while on international duty.
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