Aston Villa thrash West Ham to close on Premier League top four
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Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz scores their second goal from the penalty spot.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Unai Emery urged Aston Villa to chase their dreams this season after thrashing West Ham United 4-1 on Sunday to close within two points of the top of the Premier League.
Douglas Luiz scored twice, while Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey were also on target as Villa notched an 11th straight home league win.
The team have been transformed in just over a year since Emery took charge, with only Manchester City and Arsenal having collected more Premier League points in 2023. Victory takes Villa up to fifth in the table on 19 points, but within striking distance of leaders City (21).
They have scored 17 goals in their four home league games this season, more than any other club in the top flight, conceding just three in the process.
Captain John McGinn has spoken of harbouring ambitions to qualify for the Champions League and Emery is focused on at least securing European football for a second consecutive season.
“One of our dreams is to be with the top seven teams and to do something in Europe,” said the Villa boss, whose side are in the Conference League this season.
“To get European football is very important and that is the work we need to try to do. We need to be consistent in what we are doing.”
Luiz is just one of a number of players who are performing at a different level under the Spaniard and continued his scoring streak at Villa Park.
The Brazilian became the first Villa player to score in six consecutive home Premier League games when his strike from the edge of the box had too much power for Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal on 30 minutes.
He then doubled his side’s advantage from the penalty spot early in the second period.
Jarrod Bowen reduced West Ham’s arrears just four minutes later for his 100th career goal.
However, any hope of a Hammers fightback was snuffed out by the in-form Watkins – he now has eight goals this season – on an afternoon that proved a reality check for David Moyes’ men.
“I see the players every day and know we need to play really well to keep up with the top six teams,” said Moyes. “The players are good players but as you can see, if this is the level we need to reach, then we need to improve.”
After Watkins’ goal, Bailey then exemplified the impressive attacking arsenal that Villa have amassed in recent transfer windows.
The Jamaican was left on the bench as Nicolo Zaniolo started despite being the subject of an investigation from Italian prosecutors over a betting scandal.
But the substitute made the most of his time on the field as he cut inside Nayef Aguerd with a step-over and fired into the top corner. AFP
