Having claimed 42 points on our travels last term, as well as conceding the fewest goals (13), and keeping the most clean sheets (11), we head to Birmingham looking to avenge back-to-back defeats at the hands of Villa as we aim to hit new heights in 2024/25.
Unai Emery’s team are the only side to beat us in the Premier League in 2024, and having beaten West Ham United at the London Stadium last Saturday, Villa are looking to win their opening two Premier League matches for just the fourth time
The occasion of Villa’s 150th season will see them grace the Champions League for the first time, courtesy of their fourth-place finish last term. A run of 16 wins from 17 league matches at Villa Park was the catalyst for that success, however, they finished 2023/24 with just three victories across their last nine games on home turf.
Eyeing to beef up his side, Emery has brought in £50 million man Amadou Onana, who scored when debuting against West Ham, and another £37 million went Chelsea’s way for left-back Ian Maatsen who impressed for the Netherlands at Euro 2024. Ross Barkley and Jaden Philogene returned to the club, while youngsters Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea arrived from Juventus.
To offset that, Douglas Luis headed to Turin for £42 million, Moussa Diaby went to Al-Ittihad for £50 million and Omari Kellyman and Cameron Archer made substantial switches to Chelsea and Southampton respectively. One man Emery will be relieved stayed was Jhon Duran, who seemed on the verge of joining West Ham before bagging the winner at their expense
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