Aston Villa

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa winger Samuel Iling-Junior is closing in on a season-long loan move to Bologna.

The 20-year-old joined Villa from Juventus at the end of June in an £11.8m move, with a potential further £2.5m payable add-ons.

The move went through at the same time as midfielder Douglas Luiz completed a move in the other direction.

But Iling-Junior is close to a rapid return to Italy through Bologna, a club that secured a shock qualification to the Champions League through an impressive fifth place finish in Serie A.

The move is dependant on a medical but the former Chelsea academy product is in Italy finalising the move.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Ian: Fine margins! Any other day and Villa win by two or three goals. It was just one of them days for Ollie Watkins. It was a good, solid performance against a top side in Arsenal, who will go close to the title again. I thought Rogers was outstanding, he was the best player on the pitch. The bench didn't really do it this week, but we are only two games in and I'm encouraged for the season ahead.

Dudley: I thought we were the better team, but goals change games. There is a big week ahead in the transfer window to see if we can strengthen. Raheem Sterling would be a good asset.

David: A tale of two pre-seasons. Rogers worked hard in pre-season and looks sharp. Watkins had no pre-season whatsoever after the Euros and it showed. Early signs are good this season. The tactics were spot on but we just needed to be clinical in front of goal.

Sam: The two games this season have seen a more structured Villa. They are more confident at the back and, most notably, there are less mistakes when building from the back. Ollie Watkins is still finding his feet this season and otherwise would have scored two goals. The Onana and Tielemans mix in midfield looks solid and we look a more balanced team. There is no shame here.

Arsenal fans

Jordan: Solid statement win is what we needed right now! However, the next few games will be a true test of our mettle as title contenders. Performance wise, we were fairly resolute and solid. Raya deserved POTM for his save and for keeping us in it. We need to shore up in our forward areas but my main focus would be a right-winger rather than a striker, just so we can rotate Saka.

Kevin: Arsenal were in difficulty at times and, on a different day, could have lost this match. They lacked some fluency against a well-organised Aston Villa, but their determination and quality finally paid off in the final quarter. They finished the match strongly. Saka and Odegaard were both good, but the star of the day was David Raya.

Sani: I really enjoyed every minute from the start to finish. Villa Park will be tough for every team that visit it this season, as always. When Emiliano Martinez saved Saka's shot in first half, I thought it was going to be another day of frustration. Trossard is always reliable and I wonder how Martinez allowed Partey's shot to squeeze inside his net.

Hakeem: Not as impressive and promising as is being touted! Did Arsenal overdo the number of pre-season matches they played? They are looking tired. Arsenal need more reinforcements at centre-back plus two lethal strikers up front. I have a sneaky feeling that this year's title outcome may be decided by goal difference.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa were left nursing a huge of sense of missed opportunity after the loss to Arsenal at Villa Park.

Two of Villa's most reliable performers, England striker Ollie Watkins and Argentina's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez, were culpable as the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners.

Watkins missed a golden chance in first half, shooting wide with only Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to beat, and he was also the victim of Raya's second half wonder save - although he still should have scored with his diving header.

Martinez - 'the world's number one' according to pretty much everyone inside Villa Park - fumbled Thomas Partey's routine shot from the edge of the area to give Arsenal their crucial second goal.

However, this was a performance which will still give Villa plenty of hope, especially with the outstanding display from 22-year-old Morgan Rogers.

Rogers was their best performer - mixing running power and dribbling skill, that was simply too much for Arsenal on many occasions, with genuine quality on the ball to ride the challenges, win the physical exchanges and create chances.

He was a threat throughout and, while the result may have been disappointing for Villa, everything Rogers did suggests they have a serious prospect on their hands.

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 4-0 Everton

• Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We played competitively and faced them. We were more or less safe and we had our chance to score and had even better chances than them. The first half was a little bit more them than us. The second half, we created two very good chances to score. If we score one goal, then maybe we win the match.

"I accept the result today because I think we are doing our way and trying to improve our things and develop as well. It is the second game in the Premier League, we can learn and improve more.

"We want to be here with our supporters in Villa Park - playing, getting comfortable, and keeping the same way as we did last year. There is still work to do. We will improve and use those matches we played against West Ham and Arsenal to understand our way. We will try to be in the top ten or the top six.

"I am happy and, if we were scoring goals, then maybe we would be winning. With Arsenal, we feel we are close to getting a performance. The players will stay calm, have two days rest, and then get ready for the match against Leicester."

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "Outside both boxes, we had the better of it. Through the majority of the game, I felt we were really good. I felt we competed. Obviously, we know they are a good team, so we had to give up some areas but we contained them really well."

On Ollie Watkins' missed chances: "He is our talisman. We rely on him and we know he will score them. We are not going to question that. It is one of those things, it happens. We gave a good account of ourselves. It is one of those games we have to dust ourselves down from and move on."

On opponents Arsenal: "We watched them, analysed them, and tried to come up with a game plan to stop their threats. We had to wait to pounce and capitalise when we could, and I think we did that. We caught them out and surprised them.

"That is what football is about. It is chess. It is two top managers trying to combat each other and that was what it was. Unfortunately, we didn't get that end bit."

On his own performance: "I'm getting better and better. I'm more comfortable within the team, tying to impress, trying to shine. I would prefer it to be in a winning way. I want to go better, score goals, create stuff and win games for the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have failed to win three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time under Unai Emery (D2 L1). This is also the first time since 2019-20 that they have lost their first home league game of the season.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance, external

What did you make of the Gunners' display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa and Arsenal will both be looking to put down early markers in Saturday evening's meeting of the Premier League heavyweights at Villa Park.

Villa, who made a fine start with an opening weekend win at West Ham United, will want to prove they have the quality to challenge the elite on home turf as they did last season, when manager Unai Emery led a remarkable return to the Champions League.

As for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, the sight of Villa will bring back painful memories as well as a reminder that little short of perfection will be required to bridge the gap from second place to title winners in pursuit of Manchester City.

Villa took six points off Arsenal last season, their 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium in mid-April proving to be the turning point in the title race, effectively handing City control at the top of the table as they went on to secure a fourth successive crown by two points.

Arsenal's growing confidence and self-belief that this can finally be their year will increase markedly if they can come away from Villa Park - a formidable environment where Emery’s side also beat Manchester City days before overcoming the Gunners last season - with a win.

As for Villa, if they can overturn Arteta's side once more, it will offer further evidence that last season’s fourth place and break through the Premier League’s glass ceiling may not be a one-off.

There are seven games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction.

Follow live here

*All times are BST

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Arsenal really had control over Wolves last week and Villa are at home after a big win at West Ham.

It smells of a draw but I am going to say Mikel Arteta's Arsenal will pickpocket Aston Villa and edge it.

Amfo's prediction: 2-2

Stephens' prediction: 0-2

Aston Villa are literally the reason we lost the title last season so surely Arteta has looked closely at what went wrong there.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery confirmed they "don't have more issues with injured players" and added on long-term absentees: "Boubacar Kamara is progressing a lot, I think now is the sixth month since he was injured and he had surgery and, more or less, in a few weeks he will start training with us. Tyrone Mings is close to starting doing something with the team, now he's working alone but he's feeling very good."

• On returning to Villa Park for the club's first home game of the season: "They are going to be very excited and we are looking forward to being there with our supporters, enjoying each moment... we have to try to be consistent now and try to focus on three [home] matches, trying to be strong, to be competitive and focusing on the Premier League like the first target we have in our competition."

• Emery said goalkeeper Emi Martinez is "involved completely in this project" after signing a new contract.

• He added: "When I arrived here, I knew him before because we were working at Arsenal together. I knew his mentality and even now it's stronger than before because he's achieving individual objectives with his national team and here with Aston Villa. His extension is fantastic for us and very good for every supporter of Aston Villa, we can be proud of him."

• On facing Arsenal: "They are progressing a lot, they are improving a lot and they are being very competitive, more and more. It's a big challenge for us tomorrow. They are favourites against us and contenders to win the Premier League and be in the top four."

• He added: "We are excited, we are motivated, but we have to show again our capacity. If we are able to repeat with the different players, with the different ways, one year more here how we can compete, how we can face teams like Arsenal. The challenge is motivating for us and our supporters to face them."

• On the project at Villa: "The last history of Aston Villa is progressively getting better, but five years ago they were in the Championship. With the new project, with the history, with the new way we want to create here, it's about trying to be contenders and be consistent."

• He added: "To achieve the objectives we are facing, dreaming is very difficult, but I want to dream and work hard to get it. At the moment we are in a good way but there’s still a lot of work to do to continue being consistent like I want."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 29, has been offered to Aston Villa but Unai Emery is not sure if the England attacker fits into his plans. (Mirror, external)

Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign Atletico Madrid and Spain Under-23 striker Samu Omorodion after the 20-year-old saw a £34m move to Chelsea fall through earlier this month. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

After Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez signed a contract extension which will keep him at Villa Park until 2029, we asked for your views on his new deal and how important the World Cup winner is to the Premier League club.

Here are some of your comments:

Michael: This is simply Villa's best signing of the summer and I think the best in the Premier League. A man who epitomises Aston Villa's resurgence. Wow.

Dunca: This is what loyalty looks like. The club have invested in him and the team and he has repaid it in abundance. The team look a different entity when he is in it. The best keeper in the Premier League in my opinion.

Isaac: Without Martinez, we probably would be stuck in mid-table. Martinez is probably the reason we are in the Champions League and also when we win it!

Rex: It shows how much respect and belief Martinez has in Emery, he could easily have moved to a top European club. He is a leader on the pitch and this will raise the morale of all Villa players.

Mossy: Absolutely delighted he has signed on for another few years, whatever people think of him and his antics he is still a world-class goalkeeper at the top of his game. He dominates his area, he oozes confidence which emanates through to the outfield and we are so much better when he is on the pitch. Would love us to win a trophy with him in goal for us.

Chris: When Martinez is in goal the back feels solid, he is the foundation we build on to win games, he pulls off a winning save when we most need them.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's loan move for Aston Villa left-back Alex Moreno is progressing.

The 31-year-old is expected to head to the City Ground after falling down the pecking order under Villa boss Unai Emery. Ian Maatsen joined Villa for £37.5m from Chelsea earlier this summer, while Lucas Digne is also ahead of him.

The defender joined from Real Betis in 2023 and has made 48 appearances, scoring three goals, for Villa.

Meanwhile, Forest remain in talks with Burnley, who want to sign defender Joe Worrall. The centre-back has not played for Forest since January and spent the second half of last season on loan at Besiktas.

The Clarets could lose defender Dara O'Shea, who is wanted by Wolves and Brentford, and are looking to offer Worrall, who came through Forest's academy, a way out of the City Ground.

Image source, Getty Images

Emi Martinez has spoken about his delight at signing a new contract at Aston Villa, and to remain at the club where he "became the best in the world".

Speaking to the club's official website, external the Argentina goalkeeper said: "I feel that the club is moving forward every year. I have achieved everything as an international for Argentina and I still think that we can win a trophy here. I will have a go in the next five years and see if we can achieve that.

“I became the best in the world here and I want to continue developing myself. I’ve got an amazing goalie coach and an amazing manager.

“This club wants to progress. Defending the goal at Villa Park is exciting and I get goosebumps every time I hear my name in the stadium.

“I feel the same love here as I feel for the national team, so why change?”

The 31-year-old joined the club in 2020 from Arsenal and after qualifying for the Champions League last season, he now hopes he can help the club win silverware.

He added: “I love it here but I wouldn’t stay at the club if I didn’t see progress because I want to achieve things, I want to win things and keep being the best goalie in the world.

“It’s always possible when you’ve got the manager we have. He reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with Villarreal, he won four Europa Leagues and he’s taken Villa to the Champions League for the first time."