Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is confronted with several welcome selection headaches as his side prepares to host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park this Saturday. The match presents an immediate opportunity for Villa to respond to their midweek defeat at Arsenal, which ended an impressive 11-game unbeaten run.
Villa's Strong Position and Forest's Relegation Battle
Despite the setback at the Emirates Stadium, Aston Villa's position in the Premier League's top five remains robust. This is largely because none of the four clubs directly below them managed to win their own home fixtures in the latest round of matches. The defeat at Arsenal cost Villa just a single point in the race for European qualification.
Their opponents, Nottingham Forest, arrive in Birmingham under significant pressure. Sean Dyche's side are perilously close to the relegation zone, with a mere four points separating them from 18th-placed West Ham United. Forest's form has been poor, losing their last three league outings, though they have shown resilience on the road, winning three of their last five away games in all competitions. This includes a memorable 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield back in November.
The historical record favours the hosts heavily. Villa are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home games against Forest, winning the last five consecutively. You have to go back to October 1994, under manager Ron Atkinson, for Villa's last home defeat to this weekend's visitors.
Emery's Team Selection and Predicted Lineup
Emery will be boosted by the return of right-back Matty Cash, who has served a one-match suspension. In goal, World Cup winner Emi Martinez is expected to continue as the last line of defence.
The centre-back partnership likely depends on the fitness of Pau Torres. If the Spaniard cannot recover from injury in time, Victor Lindelof should continue alongside Ezri Konsa. At left-back, Ian Maatsen is anticipated to return to the starting eleven.
In midfield, there is significant news. Boubacar Kamara is available again following a ban and is tipped to slot back into the engine room, likely alongside Youri Tielemans. This comes after Amadou Onana picked up an injury during the first half against Arsenal.
Further forward, Morgan Rogers and captain John McGinn are set to provide support for striker Ollie Watkins. The major attacking dilemma for Emery revolves around the final supporting role. The choice appears to be between Emi Buendia, Jadon Sancho, and January signing Donyell Malen. While Buendia could earn a third successive start, the fresh legs and pace of Malen or Sancho might be seen as better options from the beginning against a potentially deep-lying Forest defence.
Final Predicted Aston Villa Starting XI
Based on the available information and tactical considerations, the likely Villa lineup to face Nottingham Forest is:
- Goalkeeper: Emi Martinez
- Defence: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, Ian Maatsen
- Midfield: Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans
- Attack: John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia
- Striker: Ollie Watkins
The final decision on whether Buendia, Malen, or Sancho gets the nod will be one of the most telling clues to Emery's game plan as Villa target an 11th consecutive home victory to solidify their Champions League ambitions.
