Gabby Agbonlahor spot on about Aston Villa star who will be ‘big’ influence in title race
Aston Villa reignited their title hopes by beating Newcastle 2-0 at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Goals from Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins were enough for the Villans to secure all three points, and they looked comfortable throughout the match.
Aston Villa’s win over Newcastle leaves them third in the table, but Unai Emery’s side now sit just four points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Man United later on Sunday has blown the title race wide open, and Gabby Agbonlahor is among those to feel excited about Villa’s potential hopes.
Gabby Agbonlahor heaps praise on Amadou Onana
Amadou Onana has been excellent for Aston Villa at times this season, but he took his game to another level at St James’ Park.
Onana faced criticism for his performance against Spurs on 19 October, and his form has certainly picked up ever since.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 26 January, Agbonlahor praised the Belgium international’s impact in midfield against the Magpies.
He said: “Onana was key in yesterday’s game. He’s had his problems this season; he’s quite injury-prone.
| Stat | Onana |
| Minutes played | 89 |
| Pass accuracy | 91% |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Recoveries | 4 |
| Touches | 46 |
“But with [Boubacar] Kamara and [John] McGinn out, he’s a must in the midfield.”
According to FotMob, Onana has won 71.4 per cent of his aerial duels and 64.7 per cent of his ground duels this season.
On Sunday, the 24-year-old won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, and his physicality in midfield helps Villa defend the centre of the pitch so well.
With both Kamara and McGinn sidelined, Onana has a chance to step up and show why Villa broke their transfer record and spent £50m on him.
He can also prove why he is one of their most crucial players in the title race, alongside Youri Tielemans.
- Read more: Keith Hackett in complete agreement with Jarred Gillett amid Joelinton controversy vs Aston Villa
Youri Tielemans is the perfect midfield partner for Onana
Tielemans has been an incredible signing for Villa since joining from Leicester in 2023, and has appeared in 121 matches under Emery.
The 28-year-old has been out with a calf injury in the early stages of the campaign, but has become irreplaceable in the starting lineup since returning to action.
The Belgian duo match each other very well, with Tielemans possessing the guile and creativity to open up other teams.
Onana is particularly impressive at breaking up play, while his athleticism makes him a great runner from midfield.
In comparison to their title rivals, it’s clear that Emery’s squad is by far the weakest.
However, they have proven that they have enough quality in their starting eleven to go toe-to-toe with any team in the country.
With 15 league games left to play, Onana and Tielemans have what it takes to become Villa‘s most important players in the Premier League title race.
Stay ahead of the action — subscribe to Villa News on Substack for more exclusive insights and match-day analysis.