Unai Emery says Donyell Malen is accessible to make his Aston Villa debut in opposition to Arsenal.
Malen sealed a change to Villa Park earlier this week for a reported £21million and has been coaching together with his new team-mates this week.
The versatile Dutch ahead, who can function in all three positions behind the striker, gives Emery’s males with an additional increase in assault as they contiunue to problem within the Premier League and Champions League.
Emery stated: “He’s often enjoying as a quantity seven and generally as a quantity 11 on the left aspect, whereas he can even play as a quantity ten.
“Within the attacking third, he’s at all times near entering into the opponent’s field to attain targets and get assists. We’ll want a participant like him making an attempt to threaten the opponent in behind.”
Villa turning a nook
Villa ended a run of 5 consecutive away defeats with a 1-0 win over Everton on Wednesday courtesy of Ollie Watkins’ winner at Goodison Park, whereas they’ve additionally kicked off the 12 months with three straight wins.
Emery added: “We are able to really feel slightly little bit of confidence after we gained in Everton, however the problem tomorrow is to be aggressive. By way of being aggressive, we will be near taking a superb end result.
“Arsenal tomorrow will probably be very, very troublesome. Each match we face is being very, very troublesome – in Everton as properly.
“We’re getting ready the match, we’re very motivated and we’re going to attempt to play, bettering issues we did in Everton and bettering issues we did away within the final matches in opposition to prime groups within the Premier League.
“Tomorrow we play one of many candidates and favourites to win the Premier League.”
Unai Emery: “We are able to really feel slightly little bit of confidence after we gained in Everton, however the problem tomorrow is once more to attempt to be aggressive. By way of being aggressive, we will be near taking a superb end result.” pic.twitter.com/uwdGUgXMWv
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 17, 2025
Emirates return
Emery returns to the Emirates on Saturday for the primary time because the former Arsenal supervisor’s aspect ended the Gunners’ title hopes with a 2-0 victory in April final 12 months.
“That is totally different circumstances [to Villa’s win against Arsenal last season]. That second was a really particular circumstance for them and for us as a result of they had been very concerned within the Champions League in opposition to Bayern Munich and we had been as properly within the Convention League.
“We competed very properly in that second in 90 minutes and we gained, but it surely was very troublesome. This 12 months it’s totally different circumstances. There aren’t many issues just like final 12 months, it’s going to be totally different and we’ve got to attempt to play, competing with the thought we’ve got.
“We’ve got to construct the group like we’re doing and attempt to get confidence and good emotions. Particular person gamers have to really feel assured, and that is the match we’ve got tomorrow.”
Villa damage information
Updating on Villa’s damage information, Emery stated: “Pau Torres is out and never out there, John McGinn is coaching on the sphere however not [ready for] tomorrow.
“Ross Barkley continues to be out. Diego Carlos within the medical report is just not feeling good and I feel he gained’t be [involved] tomorrow.”
