Aston Villa notebook: Watkins’ incredible output, Bailey’s decision, and Emery’s reason for concern

Aston Villa notebook: Watkins’ incredible output, Bailey’s decision, and Emery’s reason for concern.

Aston Villa ensured they kept a level of momentum heading into back-to-back home matches against Manchester City and Arsenal this week by snatching a point at the Vitality Stadium through Ollie Watkins’ late equaliser.

Unai Emery’s side fell behind inside the first ten minutes after Diego Carlos gave the ball away cheaply on the edge of his own box. Ryan Christie picked out Antoine Semenyo, who finished past Emi Martinez to open the scoring.

Leon Bailey responded in the 20th minute by cutting inside and slamming the ball beyond Neto, before Dominic Solanke restored the hosts’ advantage after half-time. Watkins, who was a doubt to start against the Cherries through injury, came up with a sublime header in the final moment of regulation time by heading in Moussa Diaby’s cross from the right.

BAILEY ON BOURNEMOUTH DRAW

Bailey is enjoying his best football since joining Villa back in the summer of 2021. He has now scored seven goals in all competitions and registered six assists.

“It was a very difficult game,” Bailey told Villa TV. “They showed a lot of character and it was difficult for us in some moments, but we didn’t give up and we fight until the end

“A lot of things didn’t go in our favour today, but at the end of the day it’s about mentality and character. We showed that until the last minute and I was just grateful we could come out of today with a point.

“The goal is to try and help the team a much as possible and it’s a good feeling to get goals and give assists in every game. I just need to take the chances which are available for me.

“We wanted three points but unfortunately this is the Premier League, it is very difficult. We are grateful to pick up a point here and then we just have to focus on Wednesday.”

WATKINS’ STAGGERING OUTPUT

After assisting Bailey’s goal and bagging the equaliser against Bournemouth, Watkins became only the fourth Aston Villa player to provide 6+ goals and 6+ assists in consecutive Premier League

seasons for the club, with yesterday being the sixth time he has both scored and assisted in the same Premier League game. In doing so he joins Jack Grealish, Dwight Yorke and Ashley Young.

Since Emery’s appointment at Villa in November last year, Watkins has registered 32 goal involvements in 38 Premier League appearances. This term, he has 16 goal contributions in 14 league games and 21 goals and assists in as many appearances across all competitions.

A CAUS FOR CONCERN

Villa have now conceded in eight consecutive Premier League matches, their longest run since a run of 11 games between May and September 2022. It’s worth noting that only four of the top ten have won more games away from home than Villa this term, but the amount of goals and chances Emery’s side are conceding is a cause for concern.

Emi Martinez kept Villa in the game at various stages against Bournemouth, while both goals which the hosts scored were avoidable from Emery’s point of view. Carlos’ sloppy pass allowed them to open the scoring before Pau Torres gave Solanke the chance to turn inside the box and convert past Martinez early in the second period.

Only five teams have shipped more goals in away games than Villa (15) this term. For comparison, Newcastle (10), Man City (9), Chelsea (9), Liverpool (9), Man Utd (7) and Arsenal (3) have conceded considerably less

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