AdminAston Villa finally have something positive to build on after Tuesday night’s Champions League victory over Club Brugge, but one result cannot hide their difficult start to the season.
Unai Emery’s side suffered a 4-0 defeat at Brighton before losing 1-0 at home to champions Arsenal.
They improved against Hull City but were held to a goalless draw, leaving them with just one point from their opening three Premier League games.
Villa had failed to score in all three matches, managing only one shot on target. Their attacking struggles made the arrival of new forward options even more important.
That changed in Belgium, where John McGinn, Emi Buendia and Nicolas Jackson all scored in the first half to give Villa their first victory of the campaign.
One player who has continued to impress Emery is teenager George Hemmings. The 19-year-old started against Hull and Club Brugge, completing the entire Champions League match.
His emergence has also created an interesting situation for Alejandro Garnacho, who remained an unused substitute in Belgium.
French journalist Romain Molina has reportedly raised questions over Garnacho’s early training performances, although there has been no public confirmation from Villa or Emery.
Former Villa defender Stephen Warnock also criticised Garnacho after his appearance against Hull, claiming the winger looked ‘disinterested’.
With competition increasing, Garnacho must now respond on the pitch and prove he deserves a bigger role under Emery.
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