Aston Villa’s win over Wolverhampton on Sunday was one of those games that will not live long in the memory for the quality of football, but it will stick around for what it said about this team. Villa were flat, the tempo was poor, and Wolves can rightly feel unfortunate to walk away with nothing. Hard cheese though, because the sign of a very good side is winning on a bad day, and that is exactly what we did. It wasn’t pretty, but it was three points at home when we did not play well, and those are often the results that matter the most by the end of a season.
If Sunday was forgettable, last night at Brighton was the opposite. For the neutral, it had everything. Goals in abundance, decisions that will be argued about. Brighton’s first goal came from a corner that should not have stood, and it set the tone for a night where the officials seemed determined to involve themselves. Villa had a penalty shout when Maatsen was fouled in the box, and for me it should have been given. On the touchline, Emery lived every second, pacing, shouting, his intensity was wild.
My man of the match was Onana. He has stepped up recently, not in moments, but in complete performances that show real presence and quality. He plays with authority, carries himself as though he belongs at the highest level, and he is scoring goals as well. Last night he knitted our play together and added a physical edge that Brighton struggled to handle. He needs to be in the starting line-up on Saturday against Arsenal, because right now he is becoming one of the most reliable midfielders at the club.
Ollie Watkins deserves his own mention. He was close to being my man of the match because of his determination and sheer desire to get on the scoresheet. He got his rewards with two excellent goals. The first was a brilliant poacher’s finish of the highest quality, instinctive and ruthless. The second, right before half-time, was the kind of striker’s goal that lifts an entire team. Emery’s reaction on the touchline said it all, a sort of angry, ecstatic celebration that captured the moment perfectly. I have had genuine concerns about his lack of goals this season, but last night he delivered exactly what I have been waiting for. I am over the moon with his performance, not just for the goals, but for the statement it made. Watkins is vital to how far this team can go. UTV