A summer of change off the pitch for Aston Villa was followed by one of the worst opening 45 minutes of a season in Premier League history as Unai Emery’s side collapsed at Brighton.
Last season’s Europa League winners went into the new campaign having lost four of the players that started their 3-0 win over Freiburg in May. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa’s exits could also soon be followed by two more first-team stars in Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, who were both left out of Villa’s matchday squad at Brighton.
A new-look Villa went behind inside eight minutes in calamitous fashion as Victor Lindelof bundled into his own net before Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper doubled their advantage. Jack Hinshelwood then scored twice in two minutes before Villa’s Joao Gomes, a £38m signing from Wolves, was sent off on his first Premier League appearance for his new club.
Hinshelwood’s first goal was followed by another straight from kick-off. Gomes was caught in possession on the edge of his own box before Hinshelwood finished into an empty net for his second – just 80 seconds after his first.
It then went from bad to worse for debutant Gomes, who was earlier booked for waving an imaginary yellow card towards Pascal Gross, as he received a straight red card for kicking out at Georginio Rutter.
According to Opta, Gomes became just the second Premier League player to be sent off in the first half of his first appearance for club, after QPR’s Samba Diakite in 2012, while Brighton became just the third team to lead by four goals at half-time on the opening weekend in Premier League history.
There were empty seats in the Villa away end before half-time, and the potential for further embarrassment to come, amid a hugely uncertain period for the Europa League winners, although the fans who remained continued to chant Emery’s name.
open image in gallery
open image in galleryVilla have recouped huge fees for their departing stars, receiving a record £117m for Rogers from Chelsea, £51m for England defender Konsa and £35m for Tielemans, but the uncertainty off the field is undoubtedly a concern. Villa have broken their transfer record to sign Johan Manzambi while Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki appears to be the replacement for Martinez.
Villa striker Watkins is wanted by Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, and his omission from the travelling squad to the south coast will only heighten speculation.
Manager Emery provided a bizarre response when asked if this omission signalled the end for Watkins’ time at Villa, taking a lengthy pause before replying: “Silence.”
Emery previously said in a press conference that he wants to keep Watkins but has already confirmed that bids have been made for the England international.
Next up for Villa is a home match against Premier League champions Arsenal on Monday.