Unai Emery hailed a “fantastic” win that capped a “very good week” as Aston Villa got here from behind to win 3-1 at home to Bournemouth.
After going a goal down through Dominic Solanke’s Thirty first-minute penalty, the hosts equalized after first-half stoppage-time tries from Morgan Rodgers and second-half tries from Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailly, each from Ollie Watkins. arranged by The Premier League’s leading assist maker has scored 12 of his 19 goals this season.
Villa prolonged their bid for Champions League football again seven days after a 2-0 win at Arsenal, and a penalty shootout victory at Lille that took them into the Europa League semi-finals thrice.
With 4 league games remaining, the Midlands outfit at the moment are six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who’ve two games remaining.
Villa boss Emery said in his post-match press conference: “A great week, great, and today was improbable.
“Of course, those three points were very important, and I think we can be proud of our work and proud of how we are consistent and trying to fight with Tottenham.”
Villa can go nine points clear of Spurs after they host Chelsea on Saturday, a day before Tottenham’s next match at home to derby rivals Arsenal, and asked about that, Emery said: “Every match is very important.
“Here against Brentford (a 3-3 draw on April 6) we didn’t get the three points and were dissatisfied. We used that match to investigate with the players, and I feel the response of the players is Arsenal. I used to be awesome, and still awesome today.
“I think the players are showing a commitment to keep asking us to try to maintain consistency at the end of the season once again.”
Emery was also asked about being linked with Bayern Munich, to which the Spaniard replied: “I’m focused here, 100 per cent.”
Bournemouth remain in thirteenth place with 42 points and five games remaining.
The Cherries’ record variety of Premier League points for a season is 46, which was achieved under Eddie Howe in 2016-17 after they finished ninth.
And boss Antony Areola said after the Villa game: “I think we have a clear target now and that is to beat Bournemouth’s points record.
“I feel we will do it, however it won’t be easy because we’ve got a whole lot of tough games. We play Wolves again, then we’ve got Brighton, Arsenal away (also home to Brentford and Chelsea away) – Games where we wish to get the points we wish, we’ve got to perform thoroughly, that is what we’re looking for.
“We couldn’t do that today, especially in the second half, and we need to improve if we want to get it.”
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
