Aston Villa hammered Brighton 6-1 at Villa Park on Saturday to underline the incredible job Unai Emery has done over the last 12 months.
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Villa raced into a 3-0 lead within the first 26 minutes as Ollie Watkins struck twice and a Pervis Estupinan own goal compounded Brighton’s miserable defending.
Ansu Fati jumped off the bench at half time and scored a few minutes late to give Brighton a path back into the game but Watkins’ deflected shot completed his hat trick and substitute Jacob Ramsey scored a beauty late on to make it 5-1 and Douglas Luiz added a sixth in the 97th minute to make it 6-1 as Villa recorded their 10th-straight Premier League home win in style.
Emery’s side have now picked up 15 points from their first seven games, while Brighton remain on 15 but Villa move about Brighton on goal difference. Both teams now switch their attention to European action and Villa could have their eye on qualifying for the Champions League next season. Seriously. They are that good.
Ruthless Villa are ‘best of the rest’ thanks to intensity and clinical edge
Aston Villa are a wonderful team when they’re in full flow and that was the case on Saturday as they blew Brighton away early on. Unai Emery’s side are set up to swarm on loose balls and attack directly and with ferocity and the Seagulls just couldn’t handle the forward runs and pace of Watkins and Diaby in particular. There is a lovely balance about this Villa team and they’re better when Emery sets them up in a more risky 4-4-2 which almost became a 4-2-4 against Brighton. Despite some big injuries early in the season, Villa’s overall squad looks stronger than Brighton’s and Emery will be able to rotate throughout the season to try and give Villa success in the Europa Conference League and Premier League. But the Premier League could be the main focus now as there’s a real chance of Villa breaking into the top five (remember, fifth place could be a Champions League spot for next season), so perhaps Emery will prioritize the league with Villa surprisingly beaten at home by Everton in the League Cup in midweek and away at Legia Warsaw in Europe last week. Villa still need to improve defensively but as long as they’re this devastating in attack, they’ll be challenging to finish in the top six. This is not a quick thing - only Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have more wins in the Premier League since Emery took charge in early November last season.
What’s next?
Villa host Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, then head to Wolves on Sunday, Oct. 8. Brighton travel to Marseille on Thursday in the Europa League, then host Liverpool on Sunday, Oct. 8.
John McGinn: ‘Emery is obsessed with football’
Aston Villa skipper John McGinn has been giving TNT Sports in the UK some insight into just how meticulous Unai Emery is. The Spaniard has had an incredible impact since arriving at Villa Park just under a year ago and McGinn said the following about his boss:
“I was thinking to myself this morning when the manager did the tactics meeting, it was either going to be 6-1 to us or 6-1 to them!” McGinn joked.
Asked about Emery, this is what McGinn said: “He doesn’t miss a trick. He is obsessed with football and he wants us to be obsessed with football. Sometimes you need a wee break but he’s completely transformed this place and it is a pleasure to work under him. We were unhappy with how we’ve started the season. The points didn’t show that but I think today proves it wasn’t as bad a start to the season as what we thought and there are plenty more gears we can go up.”
Aston Villa vs Brighton player ratings
Courtesy of our friends at FotMob.com, here are the player ratings. Watkins, McGinn, Diaby and Cash were all sublime, so too was Douglas Luiz in midfield. As you can see, Brighton’s defense had a day to forget.
Ramsey, Luiz add extra gloss on the scoreline
Just to rub further salt into the Brighton wounds, Ramsey and Luiz both added goals late on to pour some extra gloss on the scoreline for Villa. 6-1. Wow. How far can Villa go under Unai Emery? If they can keep improving at the back, surely a top four push beckons?
Hat trick for Ollie Watkins as Aston Villa score crucial fourth on the counter
After a long period of Brighton pressure to start the first half which had Villa Park a little worried, that should be that. Villa break and McGinn dinks in a lovely ball to Watkins who cuts inside on his left foot and his shot deflects off Webster and loops in. A hat trick for Watkins and Villa lead 4-1.
Ansu Fati scores first Premier League goal to give Seagulls hope after half time triple sub
One of Brighton’s three half time subs, Spanish sensation Ansu Fati, scores his first Brighton goal to make it 3-1 early in the second half.
Fati, Pedro and Lamptey are on for Ferguson, Welbeck and Estupinan are on for Brighton and they’ve have quite the impact so far.
Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa rip Brighton apart in incredible first half
Sensational football from Aston Villa as John McGinn finds Matty Cash on the right with a perfect pass and the right back crosses for Ollie Watkins to slot home his second goal of the Premier League season. 14 minutes in and it is Aston Villa 1-0 Brighton. The home fans are buzzing at Villa Park.
Six minutes later, Watkins scores again to make it 2-0. Brighton give the ball away and they’re punished. Zaniolo looked like he was interfering from an offside position but VAR checks it and the goal stands.
Soon after it is 3-0, inside the first 26 minutes. This is bonkers. Villa win the ball back again and it is chaos as Brighton try to clear, then Diaby’s shot deflects off Estupinan and dribbles in. Villa in dreamland. Brighton all over the place. A quick VAR check for a possible foul in the build-up by Luiz on March (it did look like a foul) but the goal stands.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Brighton live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 7:30am ET, Saturday (Sept. 30)
TV channel: USA Network
Stream: Watch online via NBCSports.com
Aston Villa lineup
Three of Villa’s summer signings start with Zaniolo, Diaby and Pau Torres all in the lineup as Emery appears to be getting closer to his full-strength lineup.
Your Aston Villa team! 👊 pic.twitter.com/vccJZ4Tu87
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 30, 2023
Focus on Aston Villa
Villa’s Ollie Watkins is finally off the Premier League mark for this season, though he’s hardly been playing with a lack of confidence. Moussa Diaby has been electric for most of the season, while Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara are making the middle of the park a battleground.
OUT: Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Bertrand Traore (knock), Diego Carlos (undisclosed), Timothy Iroegbunam (other)
Brighton lineup
Teenager Jack Hinshelwood makes his first Premier League start for Brighton as Roberto De Zerbi continues to rotate the lineup.
TEAM NEWS! 🚨 Here's our starting XI to face @AVFCOfficial this afternoon. 📝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 30, 2023
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Bje7c909eg
Focus on Brighton
The sum of the parts here is massive, but special attention is being paid to Evan Ferguson given his tender age — and his hat trick early this season. There are workers all over the pitch with the talent and intelligence to match, as Brighton has navigated big-name roster turnover better than anyone at this level in recent memory.
OUT: Julio Enciso (knee), Jakub Moder (knee).| QUESTIONABLE: Pascal Gross (undisclosed), James Milner (undisclosed)