Aston Villa

We will have all the build-up to the Palace match and a look at the latest news and transfer rumours doing the rounds. Athletic Bilbao are reportedly worried ...

[Emery](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/unai-emery) is expected to reignite his interest in the summer - but Villa will face competition. "I will just look forward to the next games and see if I get a text or a call," he says. Williams reportedly has a €50million (£44m) release clause in his contract and could depart Athletic in the next transfer window. The [same report](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-nico-williams-arsenal-26338429) claims Liverpool are also interested in Williams. [Ollie Watkins](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/ollie-watkins) and Emi Buendia scored in the second half at Goodison Park. He gave us the confidence to push on and score four." The teams will meet at Villa Park on Saturday (March 4), as Vieira's side look to end an eight-game winless run. Patrick Viera's side will be hopeful they can end their eight-game winless run at Villa Park as games on home soil have proved to be a difficult task for the Eagles. The 30-year-old striker scored twice to kickstart a late flurry of goals for West Ham. [Unai Emery's](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/unai-emery) side are still 11th in the Premier League table, level on 31 points with 10th-placed Chelsea after 24 matches. It was claimed in January that Villa were prepared to meet the £45m valuation but that the player decided against a mid-season move. It is said Villa head coach Unai Emery was "key to the approach."

The Blues largely outplayed Villa but somehow ended up losing by two goals.

Idrissa Gueye made an error attempting to tackle McGinn in the penalty area, even if it was a soft penalty with minimal contact on the Villa man. He was the team’s main outlet for much of the game, receiving a match-high 16 progressive passes, completing six of seven dribbles and leading the hosts with three progressive carries. Neal Maupay did his best and was probably a little unlucky not to end a goal drought now standing at 17 matches (nine starts), but his travails in front of the net should come as no surprise. Whilst Maupay did manage to get his head on the end of an Alex Iwobi corner, firing in dozens of aerial balls from the flank is not giving him much of a chance to impact the game. This leaves a lot of the slack to be picked up by his defensive partner, James Tarkowski, but wouldn’t be too bad if his own interventions were decisive, but this isn't the case. Bringing in the experienced centre back, at a time that the Toffees were experiencing something of a defensive injury crisis early in the season appeared a shrewd move. Since Dyche came in, this has been largely corrected and the side has looked a lot more secure as a result. Everton fired in 35 crosses with a success rate of 31% and 13 of their 15 shots were taken inside the box, so not exactly hit and hope. Since that early period though, it’s been a case of diminishing returns, as some of the luck and last-ditch defending that had Everton riding high in the defensive league rankings, has dissipated. This led to a prolonged periods where the Blues had Villa penned in whilst they rained crosses in from the left - notably from Dwight McNeil - which continued into the second half. The statistics all told much the same tale: an xG (Expected Goals) for the Blues of 1.71 compared to 1.15 for Villa (excluding the penalty), 15 shots to nine, 59.2% of the host’s passes being in the opposition half, in comparison to 29.9% for the West Midlanders. Emery had set up in a 4-4-2 formation, which actually looked a lot more like a 4-2-2-2, nominal wingers Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn drifting inside in possession, sitting behind a front two of Watkins and Leon Bailey; the former occupying a more central striker role, the latter deployed more as a right-sided forward.

As the end of the season draws closer, so every result feels that bit more significant.

If Villa are to sustain a challenge in the top half over the run-in, that statistic needs to change. Watkins is now on the longest scoring streak of any Villa player for 38 years and after a period earlier this season when you feared his game was in decline, he now looks better than at any time since his £28million move from Brentford two-and-a-half years ago. The home loss to Leicester and draw with Wolves are the only two results which could be termed truly disappointing. After scoring just twice in his first 14 appearances this season, Watkins now has seven in 12 since the Spaniard’s arrival. Instead, it was all smiles thanks in large part to a player who has perhaps benefitted from the biggest call taken last month. In that respect the result was welcome, not only for the head coach but also Villa’s board.

Ollie Watkins knew Aston Villa were in for a tough afternoon at Goodison Park - and dedicated their win over Everton to the club's set-pieces coach.

“I think it is always a tough place to come,” Watkins said. “I think you know what to expect. There is going to be a lot of pressure and the fans are going to get onto you. Buendia was the match-winner in last season's corresponding clash. [Sean Dyche may have to play wildcard as board put 'golden thread' in danger](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-analysis-sean-dyche-wildcard-26330589) [Everton haunted by board failures and six unused players just proved it against Aston Villa](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/everton-aston-villa-board-26330544) [Former Everton man with Premier League ambitions hoping for Wembley redemption](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/it-something-regretted-former-everton-26325264) [Sean Dyche names Everton signing who is 'growing back into a very good player'](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sean-dyche-names-everton-signing-26333094) [Sean Dyche gives bleak Dominic Calvert-Lewin update after Everton lose to Aston Villa](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sean-dyche-calvert-lewin-everton-26330574) The Blues beat Arsenal and Leeds United 1-0 on each occasion.

Villa striker Ollie Watkins is hungry to continue his sensational scoring streak as he continues to push his case for an England recall.

“I have maybe been a bit too keen to show people that. I just want to keep scoring.” “You never know what can happen.

Unai Emery wants Villa's players to follow the lead of Emi Buendia after the playmaker's super-sub showing at Everton.

The boss said: “We have to create a good spirit and respect in taking decisions, trying to be fair. Buendia then sealed the three points himself with his fourth goal of the season, leaving Emery delighted with his attitude. The players have to respect my decision and – like on Saturday – being ready to come on and make the impact like Emi did.

And Gareth Southgate is close to announcing his England squad for the first round of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, with Villa hotshot Ollie ...

As the Villa number one was giving his acceptance speech, the camera cut to Mbappe, who was sat next to Messi. The greats of world football were in Paris on Monday night for the 2022 Best FIFA Awards. Martinez beat Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Morocco stopper Yassine Bounou to the accolade. Meanwhile, Villa returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Everton. [Aston Villa](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) on Tuesday, February 28. His performances to help Lionel Messi and Argentina win the greatest prize in football have increased the speculation over his future, with Martinez openly stating he dreams of playing in the Champions League.

We take a look at the Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Brom and Wolves players that were a force to be reckoned with.

Take a look below as we reveal the toughest tacklers to grace our local stadiums. - 10:39, 28 FEB 2023 We take a look at the Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Brom and Wolves players that were a force to be reckoned with

A look at those who moved on last month as Unai Emery decided to trim his squad for the second part of the Premier League campaign.

The popular Zimbabwean joined Luton Town on deadline day and he’s quickly become a key player for manager Rob Edwards. Mallorca’s Jaume Costa is keeping Augustinsson out for the team at the minute. Despite not playing throughout the first half of the season at Villa, Guilbert was thrust straight into the action in Ligue 1 and has totted up more than 420 minutes thus far, playing on the right-hand side of a midfield five. Archer has since become a key player for Michael Carrick’s promotion-chasing Boro and has started the last six games in the Championship, scoring three and assisting two goals in that time. A further six would head out with Danny Ings being the most high-profile name as [Villa](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) shook hands with [West Ham](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) for an initial £12million. The striker wanted out last month and was keen on a fresh start. Luton are currently sixth in the Championship and a point ahead of Norwich below them. The big Pole is back at Southampton after his recall last month. Saints are bottom of the Premier League, four points from safety. Boro are seven points adrift of Sheffield United in second, with Archer developing a good relationship with the division’s leading goalscorer, 19-goal Chuba Akpom. The Spanish club are midtable. Guilbert, 28, signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Strasbourg up until 2026.

BirminghamLive's Aston Villa writer Ashley Preece decides who makes our TOP 20 list of the best players to play for Villa in the Premier League era.

Let us know what you think in the To most bright-eyed youngsters, football was only ever invented in 1992 when the Premier League officially launched and replaced what was the old First Division. Three seasons later, then-boss Dean Smith guided his club back into the promised land with current owners

Supporters can take advantage of up to 65% off Aston Villa's 2022/23 kit range when shopping online at the Villa Store. There are great savings to be made ...