Unai Emery has demanded consistency from his Aston Villa team as they welcome struggling West Ham to the Premier League on Sunday.
Emery's side suffered a 1-0 defeat on their trip to Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday, but they are looking to go five games unbeaten in the English top flight after holding Arsenal to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium last year. time-out.
“Consistency is our goal and we can improve this just by facing every game and focusing on every game,” said Emery, whose side sit eighth in the table with 36 points heading into the weekend.
“If we don't win on Sunday, we won't be consistent at home. We lost in Monaco after two very good games we played at Everton and Arsenal.”
Villa have strengthened their squad in the January transfer window, with 21-year-old full-back Andres Garcia joining from Levante, while centre-back Diego Carlos has moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
“He is a right back with potential. He is a young player. He progressed so quickly. Hopefully we can make rapid progress in his adaptation and how he can understand everything in the Premier League at the level we have,” Emery said of the new signing.
The Spaniard also noted that Villa are open to further business during the window.
“We are open to trying to improve the squad until the last moment, and we are also open in case someone leaves,” he said.
“Of course we also focus on which players have the potential to replace Carlos.”
About next weekend's match: “For us, Sunday is very important how we can face them and prepare for the match as best as possible. We are trying to be consistent as we are at home at the moment.” pic.twitter.com/z6YzKBIqbc
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 24, 2025
Meanwhile, West Ham boss Graham Potter is also looking to add firepower in attack, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug among those unavailable for their new manager.
“There is a lot of speculation at this time of year but we just have to ignore the noise, help the players and keep working,” Potter said.
“If we are in a position to do business, we would like to do it. Our goal scores are generally OK, but we would like to do some things better. We are a bit light, but there are a lot of factors that influence us. can help.” to consider.”
However, the former Brighton boss had some good news to share when it came to Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
“Bowen is integrated into the group. He's had a few sessions, but it's still early. It's important that we don't rush it. The same goes for Summerville. He has had a few sessions but we have to see,” he said.
“It's nice to have them back, but it's important that we handle them well.”
West Ham have 26 points from 22 games and are 10 points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town as they prepare for their first away match under Potter, who replaced Julen Lopetegui earlier this month.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
Watkins, who scored his tenth goal of the season last time out to save a point at Arsenal, has been involved in 99 Premier League goals in 168 games for Villa (69 goals, 30 assists).
With a goal or assist against the Hammers, he becomes the fastest player to reach 100 goals since Kevin De Bruyne in July 2020 (155th game) and the fastest Englishman since Harry Kane in November 2017 (128th game).
West Ham – Tomas Soucek
Soucek has scored a goal and provided an assist in his last three Premier League games, securing three points against Fulham at the London Stadium on January 14.
In total, the Czech midfielder has scored five goals in 20 league appearances this season – the same number as fellow top scorer Bowen and one ahead of Lucas Paqueta.
Super Souček strikes again pic.twitter.com/u0b8ykU5I2
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 15, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WINS
Only Arsenal (14 games) has been unbeaten in the Premier League for longer than Villa, who have won 10 games in a row at Villa Park (W6 D4). They have only played three previous series of more than eleven unbeaten games at home.
They have not lost four games in the league since the turn of the year, with a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on December 26 their most recent defeat.
Emery's side have won two of their last three Premier League games against West Ham (D1), the same number as in their previous 16 games (D6 L8).
They will look to complete their first league double against West Ham since the 2010/11 season after winning 2-1 at the London Stadium on the opening weekend.
West Ham's last away game was a 2-1 defeat to Villa in the FA Cup third round earlier this month, with the Hammers losing 10 of their last 16 on the road (W3 D3).
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Aston Villa – 58.6%
Draw – 21.5%
Westham – 19.9%
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