Unai Emery looking worried at Aston Villa
Unai EmeryImago

Three Aston Villa questions to emerge from the past seven days include how does Emery solve the lack of goals?

Pete Hanson

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Aston Villa can finally focus on the pitch now a hectic transfer window is over.

The Villans were far more active than they would have hoped to be as a series of big names departed Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez, and Lucas Digne all departed during a chaotic summer.

It means Unai Emery has to mould together a much-changed squad, and the first few games have been a slow burner.

An opening 4-0 loss at Brighton was followed by a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, before the goalless draw with Hull City at the weekend.

Here, Villa News looks at three questions to have emerged at Villa Park over the past seven days.

Where are Aston Villa's goals coming from?

This is the million-dollar question right now isn't it?

Losing Watkins and Rogers from the team is obviously a huge blow, you are losing a massive goal threat.

Nicolas Jackson you sense will get among the goals eventually, but will he match what Watkins brought? That's an almighty task.

But maybe it does need reframing a little. Against Hull, created 1.75 xG, had 13 shots and three big chances, so is it more a case of being more clinical than worrying about goal threat?

Villa start last season slow too, and look how well things turned out. Patience is needed, but the question about goals will need answering soon.

Unai Emery looking worried at Aston Villa
What Unai Emery will be thinking about Nicolas Jackson after Aston Villa draw vs Hull City

What does Ibrahim Mbaye's arrival mean for Villa's attack?

Villa forked out £47million to sign teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain.

He was an unused substitute against Hull, but you sense his opportunity will come in the very near future.

Can the 18-year-old be the creative spark Villa need to get their attack firing, and can he link up with the likes of Jackson and Emiliano Buendia to provide a potent threat?

Villa fans might need to show a little patience with Mbaye, but there is real hope he can be a big creative outlet for the team.

How quickly can this new-look Villa gel?

In football there is a fine balance between showing patience and the reality of needing results.

On the one hand, there is an acceptance that such a huge upheaval over the summer means there could be some teething problems.

Emery is having to integrate a whole host of new players, while trying to figure out how to not lose a step after several big players left.

However, at the same time, Villa need to make sure they do not lose too much ground on their rivals.

Three games without a goal is a concern, and hopefully this new-look Villa can find some fluidity in the next few weeks before the international break.

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