Aston Villa Faces Goal Drought as Unai Emery Reshapes Forward Line
Aston Villa enters a challenging new era under Unai Emery, struggling with no goals in their first three Premier League matches and just one shot on target. Following a transformative summer, the team prepares to kick off their second Champions League campaign against Club Brugge on Tuesday, seeking to revitalize their season. Last season, Villa took five games to score their first top-flight goal but eventually triumphed by winning the Europa League in Istanbul. This time, however, they've lost six key players from that victorious squad, necessitating a complete overhaul of their forward line. Nicolas Jackson, a record £65m signing, replaces Ollie Watkins, who departed for Al-Hilal. Ibrahim Mbaye and Alejandro Garnacho have also joined, filling the void left by the £117m exit of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea. Emery has previously revitalized Villa, but he now faces the challenge of finding a new attacking dynamic. Jackson, who scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea, is expected to step up, but his stats indicate he has yet to match Watkins’ prolific scoring record. Despite Jackson's potential, the team must find synergy among new players. With Watkins and Rogers contributing 46% of Villa's goals last season, the pressure mounts on Mbaye and Garnacho to deliver. Mbaye arrives from Paris St-Germain for £47m and is yet to make an impact. Garnacho, a Chelsea loanee, has shown promise but has limited top-flight experience. Emery anticipates that both players will adapt to his style, as Villa looks to overcome their goal drought and establish a new attacking identity.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-09-08