With three points under their belt and Villa Park rocking like never before, it now feels like Aston Villa are finally back in the Premier League.
Pinned back the majority of the second half, trying to conserve a 1-0 lead, Anwar El Ghazi’s last-gasp goal sealed the deal for Villa, edging Everton 2-0 on Friday.
Wesley‘s cathartic welcome to the Premier League 21 minutes in gave Dean Smith’s side the room to breathe, despite being behind the ball the majority of the match.
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Four things we learned
1. Certainly not the case last time they featured in the Premier League, Villa now have the luxury of boasting game-changing choices off the bench like El Ghazi, who can come in and finish things off.
2. Three matches in, and the Toffees’ glaring void is a clinical finisher up top. They’ll need to find a solution, sooner rather than later.
3. In the 30-minute cameo, Alex Iwobi displayed that he can turn out to be a difference-maker for Everton this season, if utilized properly.
4. On a good night, there aren’t many stadiums that roar louder than Villa Park.
Man of the Match
Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) – A last-second goal from the Dutch winger gave Aston Villa their first Premier League victory in more than three years.
Jota, positive for 77 minutes on the right side of the midfield, combined time and time again with Villa right back Frederic Guilbert for the greater good of creating energetic counters. The Spaniard’s first assist of the season came in similar fashion, when Wesley finished off his precise through ball.
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Everton, like in the first half, imposed themselves on the home side, dominating control of the ball. A lack of fishing and creativity in the final third, however, complicated things for Marco Silva’s side. As the clocked ticked, the ingenuity was nowhere to be found.
Shortly after coming on, Iwobi put forward the clearest chance Everton had experienced all night. The substitute’s shot, though, struck post, denying any chances of a brilliant debut by the former Arsenal man.
Villa continued to sit back with its four-man backline and Douglas Luiz right above as the No. 6, while remaining attentive on when to spring forward and take advantage of an unbalanced Everton.
El Ghazi surprised many, riffling a shot from 25 yards out. Pickford, vigilant as ever before, calmly blocked it out of danger.
Right before stoppage time, the Toffees were a couple of feet from walking away from Villa Park with a vital point. Theo Walcott, however, failed to keep his strike leveled, skying the ball well over the bar.
Just minutes later, substitute El-Ghazi showed those watching how to finish, leading Villa to their first Premier League win since 2016.