Premier League news: Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen star as Aston Villa demolish Bournemouth
Aston Villa put in a commanding display at home to demolish Bournemouth 4-0 and reinforce their Premier League credentials ahead of a busy festive period.
The win not only delivered three crucial points, but also showcased Villa’s ability to dominate across all phases of the game.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Harrison Pearce discusses the key moments from Villa Park.
Early momentum
Villa opened the scoring when Emiliano Buendía curled a sublime free-kick over the wall and into the net to set the tone for the afternoon.
The Argentinian has provided moments of magic on more than one occasion this season as he finally looks rid of the injuries that have plagued him since joining the club.
Shortly after, Amadou Onana powered a low, precise shot beyond the Cherries ‘keeper to double the lead before half-time.
At this point, Villa looked comfortable and in control, both in terms of possession and their defensive organisation.
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Team resilience
Bournemouth pressed well in the second half, sensing a way back into the contest, but the tide turned decisively in Villa’s favour thanks to Emiliano Martínez.
The stopper produced a spectacular penalty save to deny Antoine Semenyo and Villa were out for blood.
Andoni Iraola’s side desperately attempted to stay in the fight thereafter, but Unai Emery’s substitutes landed the killer blows – Ross Barkley heading in from a corner and Donyell Malen converting a deflection to seal an emphatic win.
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Tactical takeaways
Despite Bournemouth producing moments of pressure, Villa’s back-line and Martínez held firm when it mattered.
Villa also didn’t waste their opportunities, boasting a ruthlessness that has been missing at times this season.
The introduction of Barkley and Malen then added fresh impetus and ultimately secured the result.
Barkley, remember, has hardly featured under Emery but always seems to provide something special when called upon.
On the other hand, Malen is finally coming into his own this season, offering very similar attributes to star striker Ollie Watkins.
Moving forward
For Villa, this win sees them rise in both confidence and points.
It moreover underlines that they are serious challengers for the European spots this term.
In short, they delivered an almost flawless performance, showcasing precision in front of goal and resilience at the back to control the match.
A 4-0 win of this nature doesn’t just yield three points – it sends a message to others that Aston Villa shouldn't be underestimated.
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