Unai Emery could now be set to axe one of his in-form players for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.
The Villans are in fine form ahead of the Villa Park fixture, having dispatched Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday.
Moussa Diaby, Leon Bailey and Morgan Rogers were on the scoresheet as Emery’s men recorded a relatively comfortable victory.
On the other hand, Chelsea couldn’t be in worse shape heading into the weekend. Arsenal demolished Mauricio Pochettino’s side on Tuesday evening in an abrupt return to reality.
With European football still a possibility, the West Londoners must quickly put Tuesday evening’s disappointment behind them.
Unai Emery selection headache ahead of Aston Villa v Chelsea
Villa are set to welcome back Douglas Luiz into the fold. The Brazilian has now completed his suspension and should return to the starting XI.
Luiz has started 31 matches this season; when he’s fit, he always starts. With the 25-year-old returning, Emery has a selection dilemma to consider.
Youri Tielemans, who has been lauded as “outstanding” by John McGinn, may have to make way to accommodate Luiz’s return.
Another option would be to see one of Diaby or Rogers benched and McGinn move into a more advanced role. Decisions are certainly in the pipeline for the Villa boss.
Youri Tielemans has stepped up when required for Aston Villa
Tielemans deserves immense credit for stepping up in recent weeks. Since Boubacar Kamara’s injury, the Belgian has become a regular feature in Emery’s plans.
The 26-year-old’s performances demonstrate the strength in depth Emery has at his disposal. Quality replacements can step in and make an immediate impact.
After Chelsea’s defeat on Tuesday, Villa will fancy their chances on Saturday evening. The visitors look void of confidence and are certainly there for the taking. A fast start could see the hosts out of sight before the game has really begun.
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