Aston Villa

Hannah Gowen
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

On the penultimate day of the summer transfer window, Emi Martinez's fate at Aston Villa appeared to be written in stone. Following omission from the matchday squad against Crystal Palace, Villa fans began plotting a bitter break-up with the previously beloved goalkeeper.

And yet, on Saturday, Martinez returned to the starting XI against Everton. Despite Unai Emery's firm support for Marco Bizot in the previous gameweek, it felt inevitable that the boss would revert back to his number 23 if available.

Loyalty in football is a complex beast. In a deeply tribalistic sport, rooted in community and passion, players are often placed on pedestals and lauded for their commitment to the badge. Equally, we have seen players shunned for wanting a move.

All of this is more amplified than ever in the modern game, with fans connected to players through social media and an abundance of content that brings us closer to our clubs' stars.

In reality, true loyalty in football is a rare concept. One-club players are few and far between, and agents are constantly looking for the next best thing for their clients. Whether it is trophies, bigger pay packets or more game time, players will have their eyes on future moves.

Martinez's performance and clean sheet against Everton were a bargaining chip to get back into the hearts of Villa fans who felt hurt by his failed attempts to leave the club - a place that has worshipped him as a modern legend.

While a few taps of the badge and a clap towards travelling fans may only paper over the cracks left in his relationship with fans, his showing at Hill Dickinson Stadium was the first step towards repairing what may have been broken.

"The world's number one" needs to put in a few more of those shifts before he is in the clear, but there is little room for sentimentality in football. As long as he pulls on the shirt and gives his all for the club this season, I won't hold a grudge.

Find more from Hannah Gowen at UTV, external

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Aston Villa have failed to score in their opening four league games for the first time in their history.

After four games last season, they had scored seven goals, but it is not just finishing that has been the problem.

If Villa had taken their chances like they did last season and matched their xG numbers, they still would have scored just three goals.

The other missing four goals are because of them creating both fewer and worse-quality chances, which we can see by the fact they have had just four big chances compared to 16 at this stage last season.

However, while Villa fans might think this is a bad omen for the season to come, the opposite is actually true.

Villa are just the fifth side to fail to score in their first four games of a Premier League season but not only did all of the previous four survive, they all finished comfortably in mid-table.

Steven Wyeth
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery declared himself "happy" before Saturday's game at Everton that Emiliano Martinez remained an Aston Villa player. Afterwards, he must have been ecstatic.

Martinez returned to the Villa goal at Hill Dickinson Stadium after late transfer window uncertainty about his future, missing the defeat by Crystal Palace amid an apparent flirtation with a move to Manchester United.

Emery's decision to put that aside and recall his first-choice goalkeeper proved a wise one, as without him Villa would arguably have been beaten. If you are not scoring goals - and Villa are the only English league side without one - then you must keep them out at the other end.

Martinez produced world-class saves to turn aside a deflected Jack Grealish strike and Michael Keane's second-half header, helping to earn his team a point. As Villa look to rediscover their mojo, they are at least still building from a solid foundation.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Steve: Another good performance, creating quite a few great chances, unfortunately we do not have a centre-forward who will take these chances! Beto just isn't good enough - his finishing is woeful! I'm not convinced Thierno Barry will be any better. I would have taken a punt on Jamie Vardy.

Greg: We did OK but we miss the killer instinct. Should have got Vardy for a season. He would have scored but it's a work in progress. Most players played really well. Idrissa Gueye is unbelievable. Thought David Moyes may have given Tyler Dibling 20 minutes. Save him for next week.

Lee: The perils of not getting a striker in. Beto does his best but should have finished at least two of those chances! Two points dropped in the end.

Blue: It shows how far we have come under Moyes that the result is slightly disappointing. Villa are a decent side and the miss early in the game could have changed everything, but it let us down. Michael Keane played really well, as did the rest, so we should grab the point and go again. It's only Liverpool next!

Villa fans

Matt: Another lacklustre display. Grateful to come away with a point. Starting to worry about where the goals are going to come from.

Peter: I am not sure where a win is coming from. I think the problem is midfield. If we do not get a win in our next home game I can see that we will be in a relegation fight. The truth is that the forwards are not getting enough chances. Delivery into the box is poor. There is no doubt that the players on the pitch on Saturday should be doing better.

Cassie: It's a game best forgotten, and Villa were lucky to have got a point. Emiliano Martinez saved Villa from a loss in a game of no creativity and no sign of improvement from our last match. Harvey Elliott must start the next game, and Ollie Watkins could find himself on the bench. Already, Villa are in a relegtion battle - not going to be a good season.

Adam: More fight and organisation about Villa. Martinez back to his best. Forward players were toothless. Unai Emery needs to stop shoe-horning John McGinn and Morgan Rogers into the team and have the nerve to drop one of them.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

The worry for Unai Emery is that at no point against Everton, did Aston Villa seriously threaten to alter the barren sequence that has made their start to the season so disappointing. The intensity and vibrant approach that has been their trademark was totally absent.

At this stage of last season Villa had scored seven goals and had 16 big chances, measured by Opta. This season they have had four of those opportunities in four games.

Emery tried to paint a rosy picture, but for a club of such high ambition this has been a misfiring start to a season which held - and still holds - high hopes.

Villa started with Ollie Watkins up front, but he was an invisible figure until he was substituted seven minutes from time. This was not entirely the England striker's fault as service was non-existent.

Emery introduced Harvey Elliott, Villa's deadline-day loan signing from Liverpool, to introduce some pep into his side's forward movement. He delivered a couple of darting runs, but this performance was beyond redemption by then.

Morgan Rogers, excellent for England in the 5-0 win against Serbia in Belgrade, could not exert any influence, leaving Everton keeper Jordan Pickford redundant apart from some routine handling and an attempt to unsettle Villa with some late launched clearances.

It was Everton pushing for victory, betrayed by their own cutting edge, while Villa held on for the point that satisfied Emery.

What will not satisfy Emery is that this now constitutes Villa's worst start to a Premier League season since 1997-98.

Emery, this wily and outstanding operator, will know the problems and will try to address what is currently a glaring weakness, but he must do it quickly with an away trip to Brentford in the Carabao Cup followed by a testing league visit to newly promoted Sunderland.

Villa, on this evidence, are a pale shadow of the side who performed so well in last season's Champions League and who came so close to reaching Europe's elite tournament this term.

Pundits Ashley Williams and Shay Given join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-0 Aston Villa

• Newcastle 1-0 Wolves

• West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was a picture of agitated frustration in his technical area as his side produced another shot-shy performance which leaves them without a league goal this season.

Villa were ragged, uninspired and, had they got anything more than a point against Everton, it would have ranked as grand larceny.

No matter what Emery tried - even introducing deadline-day loan signing from Liverpool, Harvey Elliott, late on - it still failed to galvanise a side looking a shadow of the energetic, vibrant outfit that have illuminated the Premier League in recent seasons.

In the end they were grateful to Emiliano Martinez, seemingly back in the good books with Villa fans after falling from favour when he tried to seek a move away from Villa Park, for an excellent performance, highlighted by that second-half save from Michael Keane.

Emery needs to find a winning formula and fast as the season has been a slog for a club of such high ambition, although a point may be of some consolation after defeats at Brentford and at home to Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's draw with Everton: "We competed very well. Again, the goalkeeper [Emiliano Martinez] coming back playing a fantastic match.

"He saved us a lot of times. He made us confident we could play with our identity. Of course, we need defence and a lot of corners and a throw-in defence compact like we did. We need to get more confidence to play with the ball.

"Get more in their box - this is now our next step forward after a lot of difficulties we have had. I am so happy because we played compact and we played committed. The players followed the game plan we had.

"Of course, offensively we need more. We need to try to help out strikers, wingers and midfielders. [I am] happy because we competed and this it the first step forward."

On Youri Tielemans: "Yes, he is injured. We have some players injured and out. Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara are going to come back.

"Youri is going to be out some matches. We need to feel confidence playing with different players.

"We are going to work, and we know inside the problem we have."

Did you know?

• Everton (111) and Aston Villa (110) have featured in more 0-0 draws than any other sides in Premier League history.

• Even more, Villa have failed to score in their opening four league games to a season for also the first time in their history. Meanwhile, they're the fifth side to do so in the Premier League after Sheffield Wednesday (1993-94), Newcastle United (2005-06), Swansea City (2011-12) and Crystal Palace (2017-18).

Hear more from Emery on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Everton make one change to the side that started their 3-2 Premier League win at Wolves before the international break. Tim Iroegbunam comes in for the injured Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Iroegbunam, Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Ndiaye, Beto.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Rohl, Aznou.

Aston Villa make four changes to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the league before the international break.

Emiliano Martinez unsurprisingly returns in goal, while Emiliano Buendia, Lucas Digne and Lamare Bogarde also come in for Marco Bizot, Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen and Evann Guessand.

Victor Lindelof, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho all start on the bench.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne McGinn, Tielemans, Buendia, Watkins, Bogarde, Rogers.

Subs: Bizot, Maatsen Proctor, Lindelof, Elliott, Torres, Malen, Sancho, Maatsen, Guessand.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Sunderland

• Everton v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Leeds United

• Newcastle v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Chelsea (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Wolves", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

What a great game this is for Jack Grealish against his old club.

He has been on fire for Everton since joining them from Manchester City, and it is great to see him playing with a smile on his face. He has been the real creative spark for them this season and if he carries on this form he will be well and truly in the mix to make the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

So much has changed about Everton since David Moyes lost his first game back in charge against Villa, at Goodison Park in January, and not just that they now have a new ground.

You just sense that, with Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye, they have the attacking threat now that they had lacked for a long time. They will be full of belief, against an Aston Villa side who badly need a positive result after their slow start to the new campaign.

The obvious prediction, based on form, is to back Everton to win but I actually don't think Villa will keep on losing.

They are under-performing and also maybe bought a few players in a bit of panic at the end of the transfer window - Jadon Sancho, Harvey Elliott and Victor Lindelof all joined on deadline day - but Emery will get a tune out of his team sooner or later.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Everton resume Premier League proceedings flying high at fifth in the table against an Aston Villa side who have an excellent record against the Toffees but are still searching for their first goal of the season.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before their meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

In-form Everton

Everton return to Premier League football having picked up more points than any other club since the start of May (16) and won two games in August – as many as they managed in that month over the past four years.

Opponents Aston Villa, on the other hand, have endured a difficult start.. They sit in the relegation zone with one point from three games and the ignominy of being the only club in the top four English tiers yet to score a goal.

So are Everton worthy of their lofty position early in the season and are Villa playing as badly as it seems? The truth, as is so often the case, is somewhere in the middle.

Jack's back

Everton's excellent start has been built around the return to form of Jack Grealish, who faces his former club.

The England international has already provided two assists in each of his two Premier League starts for the Toffees, having done so on only two occasions in his previous 191 appearances in the competition.

The form of fellow new arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has helped. He already averages more chances created per 90 of any Everton player since the start of last season, while no English player has created more chances in the Premier League in 2025-26 than Dewbury-Hall's eight. Not a bad way to start off a campaign with a World Cup at the end of it.

But the Blues' biggest boon is an improved efficiency in front of goal. In 2024-25, they ranked 18th for open-play goals (25). In this campaign, they have scored seven in their past three games in all competitions.

The new-found ruthlessness of David Moyes' side means they are outperforming their expected points total more than any team other than Liverpool, according to Opta data based on chances created and conceded.

Conversely, Unai Emery's Villa are suffering from something of a hangover following their European exploits last season, failing to find the net in all three top-flight outings so far.

The lack of goals is not for a want of trying. The Villans have had the same number of shots as Liverpool this season (33) – and the Reds are the Premier League's leading scorers on eight goals.

However, the West Midlands club are being undone by widespread wastefulness despite getting into good positions.

But if ever there was a fixture in which Villa's fortunes may change, it is this one.

They have won four of their past five Premier League visits to Everton (D1), keeping a clean sheet in their past four.

It is Villa's longest ever run of away league clean sheets against one opponent.

Everton have failed to score in their past four home Premier League games against Villa and Moyes' men will be hoping that a change of venue from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium also results in a change of fortunes in this particular contest.

Listen to Everton v Aston Villa live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds at 15:00 BST on Saturday

You can also listen to 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery brushed off any issues with Emi Martinez after he stayed at Aston Villa.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper remained at the club despite wanting a move to Manchester United.

That never materialised as United brought in Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp instead.

Martinez missed the 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace because of the transfer speculation before the deadline, but is available for Saturday's Premier League trip to Everton.

"Everything happens with players - maybe staying, maybe they were close to leaving, maybe other players were close to others or to join us," Emery said in his pre-match news conference. "It's normal.

"I understand it completely, everything. Staying here is good news - I am so, so happy. He is the best goalkeeper in the world and his commitment to Aston Villa is massive.

"He is always training to be his best, respecting Aston Villa. Some circumstances happen. Everyone is happy and the energy today was very good.

"Emi is happy and now he knows his challenge is with Aston Villa and his national team."

Emery only answered two questions on Martinez, both times saying he was happy and committed to Villa.

The manager was never going to go into detail about the situation with his star goalkeeper and offered what was expected.

Martinez may be happy now, but other windows will come.

The 33-year-old has four years left on his contract and Villa need to ensure they keep him focused for the foreseeable future.

All today's news and views on the Villa in two minutes.

This update has been created and reviewed by our journalists, using AI to help summarise the most up-to-date Aston Villa news. It's read aloud by an AI voice.

Listen on BBC Sounds

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Unai Emery says summer signings Jadon Sancho, Harvey Elliott and Victor Lindelof will all be available this weekend, but are in "different circumstances" with their level: "Sancho was not training with the group and, physically, he will need time. Harvey Elliott was training and playing consistently with Liverpool and is more or less fit. Lindelof was training individually and he is available to be with us, but he will need time to know us tactically."

• Elsewhere in the squad, Emery added: "Matty Cash is available. We have some players injured who are close like [Andres] Garcia, [Boubacar] Kamara and [Amadou] Onana. Ross Barkley has a personal issue and I think he will come back and be available soon, but not yet."

• On Emi Martinez and a deadline day move to Manchester United failing to materialise: "Everything happens with players, maybe staying, maybe they were close to leaving. It's normal, I understand it completely. Him staying here is good news - I am so happy. He is the best goalkeeper in the world, his commitment to Aston Villa is always massive. Emi is happy and he knows his challenge with us and the national team."

• On trying to improve on a slow start: "We are trying to get everything to try to build the team as soon as possible. With signing three players [late] and [Jacob] Ramsey and [Leon] Bailey leaving, we have to adapt as soon as possible."

• On Saturday's opponents: "They are playing fantastic and have experienced players. The new stadium makes the players and suppports excited. I want to play matches like this, it is a privilege as a coach."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to Everton v Aston Villa live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds at 15:00 on Saturday

You can also listen to 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play the Aston Villa game"..

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When asked about Emi Martinez before Aston Villa's defeat by Crystal Palace, Unai Emery just repeated one name.

"Bizot, Marco Bizot", he said when asked why Martinez was not in the squad. He then repeated the goalkeeper's name several times when pressed about the Argentina international's situation.

In his pre-Everton news conference at Bodymoor on Friday, the manager is not going to be able to repeat the same trick. He will need to give some answers.

Martinez did not get his desired move to Manchester United on deadline day so Emery has to use his man-management powers to reintegrate him.

The World Cup winner is Villa's best goalkeeper and he must put any disappointment behind him. His reaction will be crucial to whether the fans are willing to accept any of the aspirations he had to move on.

Emery needs Martinez - after a winless start, Villa are already playing catch-up having looked laboured in their opening three games.

The injection of Harvey Elliott, a deadline day signing from Liverpool, could be a masterstroke with the 22-year-old an exceptional player who just needs games.

Jadon Sancho's loan arrival from Manchester United fills a gap, but the England winger has much to prove and Emery needs to become the manager to harness a talent which has drifted.

Emery is due to speak to the media this afternoon - come back to this page later on for all the key lines from the Villa boss

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier on Wednesday, BBC Radio WM's Mike Taylor suggested there may come a time this season where Unai Emery will need to prioritise either the Premier League or and another competition for his Aston Villa side.

This is the third campaign where Villa are involved in Europe and, as favourites for the Europa League, a hectic schedule would be the natural result of good performances.

Whether Villa's squad can handle that is uncertain.

In any case, they have the manager to do so. Taylor acknowledged that Emery, a three-time winner of the Europa League at Sevilla, knows how to navigate complex fixture runs.

So, will he have to prioritise or not?

A quick look at some numbers shows that Emery has successfully balanced winning records in domestic leagues with going deep in European competitions.

During his time at Sevilla, he twice finished fifth while leading them to Europa League glory. Only in the 2015-16 season did their league form stutter, this time slipping to seventh.

That in part could be explained by the additional difficulties of a Champions League run in the first half of the season, before they dropped into the Europa League as a consolation and went on to win it.

At Aston Villa, it has been a similar story.

Despite the huge demands of Conference League football, Villa put together their best season in decades, for a while even challenging for the title in 2023-24, before settling for Champions League qualification.

Last season, Emery's side were in the hunt for the top four until the final day, when Emi Martinez's red card at Old Trafford played a huge part in limiting their chances.

Therefore, while winning a trophy - and a European one at that - does seem a suitable goal for Emery's side this season, doing well in the league should remain vital.

And you agree.

Here is a snapshot of your comments:

Jerry: The Premier League has to be a priority as this is what leads to future progress, but we have to play more attacking football.

Damien: Winning the Europa League is obviously very appealing, but putting all your eggs in the basket of knockout football is always a huge risk. Emery is right in focusing on the league because consistently high finishes are what will build a solid base for the future - and, hopefully, more trophies to come.

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