Aston Villa delivered a stunning late victory over title contenders Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday, securing a dramatic 2-1 win that propels them into third place in the Premier League table.
A Dramatic Villa Park Victory
The Midlands side clinched a memorable three points with a last-gasp winner from Emi Buendia, sending the home crowd into raptures. The opener had come from Matty Cash, with the full-back finding the net against the Gunners in a match that showcased Villa's growing confidence under Unai Emery.
This impressive result continues a strong run of form for Emery's men, who will now look to carry this momentum into their upcoming Europa League clash against FC Basel on Thursday. Following that European fixture, a challenging away trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham awaits next Sunday.
Murphy's Praise for 'Outstanding' Tielemans
While the goalscorers grabbed the headlines, the performance of midfielder Youri Tielemans earned significant acclaim from Match of the Day pundit and former Premier League player Danny Murphy. Murphy described the Belgian international's display as "absolutely outstanding."
The 28-year-old, who boasts 81 caps for his country, was handed a start by Emery and operated in a number 10 role. "Unai Emery deserves a lot of credit," Murphy said. "He tweaked it again from midweek. He played Tielemans as a 10. He let [Morgan] Rogers play on the left and let him drift inside as well and double up in that 10 area. It was a good game by the way, two good teams going toe-to-toe."
Murphy specifically highlighted Tielemans' intelligent movement, stating: "Tielemans was absolutely outstanding in the game, picking up that position."
Emery's Tactical Masterstroke
Emery's decision to deploy Tielemans in an advanced creative position proved to be a masterstroke. The midfielder's vision and composure created numerous chances for his teammates, allowing the likes of Rogers and Ollie Watkins the freedom to express themselves in attack.
Since joining Villa in 2023, Tielemans has made 110 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals. His journey to the Premier League included spells at Anderlecht and AS Monaco before a significant move to Leicester City in 2018, where he made 195 appearances and scored 28 goals.
While his Villa career has had its ups and downs, this performance against a top-tier opponent underscores his quality and growing consistency. His display, combined with the team's result, presents Emery with a positive selection headache for the crucial matches ahead.
For Aston Villa and their supporters, this victory is more than just three points; it's a statement of intent. Sitting in the lofty position of third, the club and its fans are daring to dream of what might be possible as the season progresses.
